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THE  OPEN  ROAD 

LIBRARY  OF  JUVENILE 

LITERATURE 


PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND 
KNIGHT 

A  BOOK  OF  CHIVALRY 

BY 

MARION  FLORENCE  LANSING,  M.A. 

ILLUSTRATED   BY 

CHARLES  COPELAND 


GINN  AND  COMPANY 

BOSTON  •  NEW  YORK  •  CHICAGO  •  LONDON 


Copyright,  1910,  by 
MARION  FLORENCE  LANSING 


ALL    RIGHTS    RESERVED 
81O.4 


gEfte  gtftenaeum  jSregj 

GINN  AND  COMPANY  •  PRO- 
PRIETORS •  BOSTON  •  U.S.A. 


Library,  Univ.  of 
J         Norrh  Carolina 

3SS.2. 

PREFACE 

William  Caxton,  the  first  English  printer,  who 
published  his  books  with  a  view  to  edification  as 
well  as  to  recreation,  thought  it  well  to  include  in 
his  library  three  books  of  chivalry,  "wherein  his 
readers  should  find  many  joyous  and  pleasant  .his- 
tories," and  should  learn  of  "the  noble  acts  of  chiv- 
alry, the  gentle  and  the  virtuous  deeds  that  some 
knights  did."  He  had  no  question  that  "for  to 
pass  the  time"  his  books  would  be  found  "pleasant 
to  read  in,"  and  he  was  equally  confident  that  the 
noble  lords  and  ladies  who  read  these  histories 
would  make  good  use  of  the  same  and  would  "  take 
the  good  and  honest  acts  in  remembrance  and  do 
after  them."  We  of  a  later  day  find  the  stories  of 
chivalry  likewise  pleasant,  refreshing,  and  entertain- 
ing, and  we  echo  his  thought  as  to  their  moral  value. 
How  better  can  gentleness  and  courtesy,  bravery  and 
hardiness,  humanity  and  friendliness,  be  instilled 
than  by  a  perusal  of  stories  of  chivalry  such  as  have 
been  gathered  in  this  volume  of  our  library  of 
literature  ? 

Page,  Esquire,  and  Knight  presents  the  best 
stories  of  all  periods  of  chivalry,  from  the  days  of 


vi  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

the  founding  of  the  Round  Table  to  the  death  of 
Chevalier  Bayard.  It  sets  forth  in  simple  story  form 
the  development  and  progress  of  knighthood  from 
the  time  of  St.  George,  who  won  his  spurs  by  kill- 
ing the  dragon,  to  the  founding,  a  thousand  years  later, 
of  the  order  which  bore  his  name  and  embodied  in 
its  ritual  the  highest  ceremonial  of  chivalry.  With  its 
explanation  of  the  meaning  of  the  degrees  of  knight- 
hood, its  description  of  quests  and  tourneys,  and  its 
outline  of  the  great  events  of  chivalry,  this  volume 
will  serve  as  a  good  introduction  to  the  later  reading 
of  the  child  in  Arthurian  and  other  romance,  and  in 
the  history  of  Charlemagne's  wars  and  the  crusades. 
Our  best  heritage  from  the  Middle  Ages  is  the 
ideal  side  of  that  system  which 

"  By  a  line 
Of  institution  from  our  ancestors, 
Hath  been  deriv'd  down  to  us,  and  receiv'd 
In  a  succession,  for  the  noblest  way 
Of  breeding  up  our  youth  in  letters,  arms, 
Fair  mien,  discourses,  civil  exercises, 
And  all  the  blazon  of  a  gentleman." 

Chivalry  ceased  to  be  of  practical  value  only  when 
the  conditions  of  civilization  called  for  men  of  peace 
rather  than  of  war,  and  the  perfect  knight  was  re- 
placed by  the  perfect  gentleman. 

M.  F.  L. 

Cambridge,  Massachusetts 


CONTENTS 

Page 
TALES    OF    KING    ARTHUR'S    COURT  (5th   and  6th 

centuries) 

THE  DRAWING  OF  THE  SWORD   ....  5 

THE  FOUNDING  OF  THE  ROUND  TABLE  .   ..  I  5 

PERCEVAL 21 

SJR  GAWAIN  AND  THE  GREEN  KNIGHT     .       .  46 

THE  PASSING  OF  ARTHUR 75 

TALES    OF    CHARLEMAGNE    AND    HIS    PEERS    (9th 
century) 

ROLAND,   A  KNIGHT  OF  FRANCE     ....  79 

THE  BATTLE  OF  RONCEVAL       .       .       .       .       .  IO3 

GODFREY,    A    KNIGHT     OF    THE     CRUSADES    ( 1 1 th 

century) 125 

THE  ORDER  OF  ST.  GEORGE  (2d  and  14th  centuries)  1 44 

CHEVALIER  BAYARD  (15th  and  1 6th  centuries)     .      .155 

SONGS  OF  CHIVALRY 

A  STEED  !    A  STEED  ! IOI 

THE  TROUBADOUR 1 43 

NOTES 179 


"  Whither  go  those  valiant  knights, 
The  glory  and  the  pride  of  France  7 

"  It  is  to  defend  our  hearthstones 
That  their  hand  takes  up  the  lance. 


PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND 
KNIGHT 

In  the  olden  days  when  it  was  needful  that 
all  men  should  learn  the  arts  of  battle  and  de- 
fense, because  law  and  order  had  not  yet  come 
to  prevail  throughout  the  world,  knighthood 
began,  and  this  is  how  it  came  to  be. 

There  had  been  armed  men  before,  and 
castles  where  they  dwelt,  and  kings  to  whom 
they  rendered  some  sort  of  allegiance.  And 
there  had  been  brave  men  who  did  valiant 
deeds,  but  there  had  been  other  warriors  as 
well  who  used  their  skill  at  arms  and  their 
power  over  their  households  and  estates  to 
do  violent  and  cruel  acts,  and  this  was  an  evil 
thing  for  all  the  land.  So  it  came  about,  as 
you  shall  read  in  the  tales  in  this  book,  that 
the  good  men  of  arms  banded  themselves  to- 
gether and  made  an  order  of  chivalry  which 
stretched  in  time  over  the  length  and  breadth 


2  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

of  all  the  civilized  world.  King  Arthur  was 
the  first  to  gather  the  knights  together,  and 
many  others  followed  in  his  way. 

The  fame  and  honor  of  this  order  of  chiv- 
alry grew  as  the  knights  who  made  it  did 
noble  deeds  and  set  themselves  high  ideals, 
until  at  last  every  boy  of  noble  family  was 
trained  to  be  a  knight ;  and  what  that  means 
you  will  know  better  when  you  have  read 
about  some  of  the  greatest  knights  that  ever 
lived,  and  what  brave  deeds  they  did,  and  to 
what  pledges  they  bound  themselves.  Grad- 
ually there  came  to  be  customs  of  knight- 
hood which  were  the  same  in  all  lands,  so 
that  in  the  later  days  of  chivalry  every  knight, 
whether  he  lived  in  a  castle  in  the  north  of 
England  or  was  a  member  of  the  household 
of  the  king  of  France,  was  trained  in  his  youth 
in  the  same  way.  He  was  taken  first  when 
he  was  seven  years  old  and  made  a  page,  so 
that  while  he  was  yet  a  child  he  should  learn 
courtesy  and  obedience  and  the  customs  of 
knightly  living.  So  it  was  that  Roland  lived 
in  the  court  of  Charlemagne  and  Bayard  in 


PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT  3 

the  household  of  the  Duke  of  Savoy.  When 
he  was  fourteen  the  lad  exchanged  his  page's 
dagger  for  the  sword,  and  became  an  esquire, 
who  should  be  taught  skill  at  arms  and 
good  horsemanship  and  should  gain  strength 
of  body  and  nobility  of  heart.  In  warlike 
days  the  esquire  might  often  see  much  serv- 
ice, for  he  always  attended  his  lord  and 
master  in  arms,  whether  in  travel  or  tourney 
or  on  the  field  of  battle.  That  shall  you  see 
when  you  read  of  Roland  and  Ogier  the  Dane. 

When  the  esquire  was  twenty-one,  if  he 
lived  in  days  of  peace  and  was  deemed  worthy, 
or  at  any  time  in  his  manhood  if  in  days  of 
strife  he  had  performed  some  valiant  feat  in 
battle,  he  was  made  a  knight ;  and  this  was 
the  most  solemn  act  of  all,  for  by  this  deed 
he  pledged  himself  to  devote  all  his  life  to 
chivalry. 

The  tales  which  you  will  read  in  this  book 
are  but  a  small  part  of  the  stories  of  noble 
knights  and  the  deeds  they  did,  since  for 
more  than  ten  hundred  years  every  noble 
king  and  every  valiant  hero  was  a  knight. 


4  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

Of  King  Arthur  and  his  Round  Table  there 
are  many,  many  stories,  for  this  was 

"  The  goodliest  fellowship  of  famous  knights 
Whereof  this  world  holds  record." 

These  you  will  read  in  the  books  wherein 
they  are  written.  In  the  pages  of  history  and 
romance  you  will  learn  of  Guy  of  Warwick 
and  of  Richard  the  Lion- Hearted,  of  Louis 
of  France  and  other  famous  knights.  But 
here  in  this  little  book  as  well  you  shall  read 
of  knightly  quests  and  strange  adventures, 
and  of  many  men  who  won  fame  and  honor 
in  those  olden  days 

"  When  every  morning  brought  a  noble  chance 
And  every  chance  brought  out  a  noble  knight." 

And  I  beseech  you  all,  so  many  as  shall 
see  and  read  in  this  book,  to  keep  these 
gracious  and  courteous  and  honorable  acts 
of  these  knights  in  remembrance,  and  to 
follow  after  the  same,  for  by  oft  reading  of 
them  you  shall  accustom  yourselves  to  do 
knightly  deeds,  and  so  shall  you  win  a  good 
name  and  fame. 


THE  DRAWING  OF  THE  SWORD 

I 

How  Britain  was  without  a  king 

In  the  olden  days  in  Britain  it  came  to 
pass  that  Uther  the  king  died,  and  none  but 
Merlin,  the  wise  man  and  magician  of  the 
realm,  knew  that  he  left  a  son  Arthur,  who 
had  been  delivered  to  Merlin  at  his  birth  to 
be  trained  in  all  things  by  him.  So  for  a  long 
time  the  realm  stood  in  great  peril,  for  every 
lord  that  was  mighty  made  himself  stronger, 
and  many  strove  to  be  king. 

Then  Merlin  went  to  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury  and  counseled  him  to  send  for 
all  the  lords  of  the  realm,  and  all  the  gentle- 
men of  arms,  be  they  earls  or  barons  or 
knights,  to  come  to  London  at  Christmas 
time,  and  there  God  would  show  by  a  sign 
who  was  to  be  rightly  king  over  all  England. 
So  the  archbishop  summoned  them  all.  And 
many  of  them  made  clean  their  lives,  that 
they  might  be  more  acceptable  to  God. 


6  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

II      • 

Of  the  marvel  of  the  appearing  of  a  sword 

At  Christmas  time  all  the  lords  and  earls 
and  barons  and  knights  came  together  from 
every  side  unto  London  to  await  the  sign 
which  should  show  who  should  be  king.   And 


behold,  when  they  came  out  from  their  morn- 
ing devotions,  there  in  the  churchyard  they 
saw  standing  a  great  stone.  It  was  of  the 
same  breadth  and  height  on  every  side,  and 
its  appearance  was  like  marble.  And  in  the 
midst  of  it  was  an  anvil  of  steel  a  foot  high, 
and  therein  stood  a  fair  sword,  naked  without 


THE  APPEARING  OF  A  SWORD  7 

sheath  or  guard,  and  about  it  were  written 
letters  of  gold  which  said  thus :  "  Whoso 
pulleth  this  sword  out  from  this  stone  is 
rightwise  king  born  of  all  England." 

Then  the  people  marveled,  and  all  the 
lords  went  to  gaze  upon  the  stone  and  the 
sword.  When  they  read  the  reading,  some 
tried  to  pull  the  sword.  One  by  one  the  lords 
and  gentlemen  of  arms,  such  as  would  have 
been  king,  essayed  to  pull  it.  But  none  might 
stir  the  sword,  nor  even  move  it. 

"  He  is  not  here,"  said  the  archbishop,  "  that 
shall  achieve  the  sword.  But  doubt  not  God 
will  make  him  known.  Now  this  is  my  coun- 
sel, that  we  choose  ten  knights,  men  of  good 
fame,  who  shall  guard  this  sword.  ■  And  upon 
New  Year's  Day  let  the  barons  make  a  joust 
and  tournament  in  which  every  knight  of  the 
realm  who  will  shall  play.  Perchance  at  that 
tourney  it  shall  be  made  known  who  shall  win 
the  sword."  And  so  it  was  done  as  the  arch- 
bishop said.    • 


8  PAGE,   ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

III 

Hozv  Arthur  pulled  out  the  szvord  sei>e?i  times 
and  was  made  king 

Upon  New  Year's  Day  the  barons  rode  to 
the  field,  and  among  them  were  Sir  Hector, 
Sir  Kay  his  son,  and  young  Arthur,  whom 
Merlin  had  caused  to  be  brought  up  by  Sir 
Hector  as  his  own  son.  As  they  rode,  Sir  Kay 
found  that  he  had  no  sword  with  him,  for  he 
had  left  it  behind  at  his  father's  lodging,  and 
he  prayed  young  Arthur  to  ride  back  for  it. 

"  I  will  well,"  said  Arthur,  and  he  rode 
swiftly  back  ;  but  when  he  came  to  the  house 
it  was  closed,  so  that  he  could  not  by  any 
means  make  his  way  in,  for  the  lady  and  all 
the  servants  were  gone  to  see  the  jousting. 

Then  was  Arthur  angry  and  said  to  himself, 
"  Nevertheless,  my  brother  Kay  shall  not  be 
without  a  sword  this  clay.  I  will  ride  to  the 
churchyard  and  take  the  sword  that  I  saw 
there  sticking  in  a  stone." 

He  rode  with  all  speed  to  the  churchyard, 
and  alighted  there  and  tied  his  horse  to  the 


THE  COMING  OF  ARTHUR  9 

stile.  When  he  came  to  the  stone  he  found 
no  knights  there,  for  they  were  at  the  joust- 
ing. So  he  grasped  the  sword  by  the  handles, 
and  lightly  and  fiercely  pulled  it  out  of  the 
stone,  and  took  his  horse  and  rode  till  he  came 
to  Sir  Kay,  and  delivered  to  him  the  sword. 

When  Sir  Kay  saw  the  blade  that  Arthur 
had  brought  him,  he  knew  well  that  it  was  the 
sword  of  the  stone.  Straightway  he  rode  to  his 
father,  Sir  Hector,  and  said,  "  Sir,  lo,  here  is 
the  sword  of  the  stone ;  wherefore  I  must 
be  king  of  this  land." 

But  Sir  Hector  said  to  him,  "  Swear  to  me 
by  thy  knightly  honor  how  thou  earnest  by 
this  sword." 

"  Sir,"  said  Kay,  "  by  my  brother  Arthur, 
for  he  brought  it  to  me." 

"  How  gat  ye  this  sword  ?  "  said  Sir  Hector 
to  Arthur. 

"  Sir,  I  will  tell  you.  When  I  came  home 
for  my  brother's  sword,  I  found  no  one  at 
home  to  deliver  it  to  me.  Yet,  thought  I,  my 
brother  Sir  Kay  should  not  be  swordless.  So 
I  went  in  all  haste  and  pulled  out  of  the  stone 


IO  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

in  the  churchyard  this  blade  which  I  had  seen 
sticking  there  as  I  passed  in  the  way." 

"  Found  ye  any  knights  about  this  sword  ? " 
said  Sir  Hector. 

"  None,"  said  Arthur. 

"  Now,"  said  Sir  Hector,  "  I  understand  ye 
must  be  king  of  this  land." 

"Wherefore  I?"  asked  Arthur,  "and  for 
what  cause  ?  " 

"  Because  God  will  have  it  so ;  for  there 
should  never  man  have  drawn  out  this  sword 
but  he  that  should  rightwise  be  king  of  this 
land." 

He  led  Arthur  and  Sir  Kay  to  the  church- 
yard, and  Arthur  read  the  words  that  were 
written  there,  which  in  his  haste  to  get  the 
sword  he  had  not  seen. 

"  Now,"  quoth  Sir  Hector,  "  let  me  see 
whether  you  can  put  the  sword  there  as  it 
was  and  pull  it  out  again." 

"  That  is  no  mastery,"  replied  Arthur,  and 
he  put  it  into  the  stone  and  drew  it  out  again. 

"  Once  more  put  it  in,"  commanded  Sir 
Hector,  and  this  time  he  himself  essayed  to 


THE  DRAWING  OF  THE  SWORD 


II 


pull  it  out,  but  he  could  neither  move  nor 
stir  it. 

"  Do  thou  try,"  he  said  to  Sir  Kay.  And 
anon  Kay  pulled  at  the  sword  with  all  his 
might,  but  it  would  not  be  moved. 

"  Now  shalt  thou  essay,"  said  Sir  Hector 
to  Arthur.  j 

"  I  will  well,"  said  Arthur,  and  drew  it  out 
easily.  That  was  the  third  time  Arthur  had 
drawn  it  forth. 


th!i& 


Therewithal  Sir  Hector  kneeled  down  be- 
fore Arthur,  and  so  likewise  did  Sir  Kay. 

"  Alas ! "  quoth  Arthur,  "mine  own  dear 
father  and  brother,  why  kneel  ye  to  me  ? " 

"  Nay,  nay,  my  lord  Arthur,"  returned  Sir 
Hector,  "  it  is  not  so.   I  was  never  your  father, 


12  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

nor  of  your  blood,  but  I  wot  well  ye  are  of  an 
higher  blood  than  ever  I  thought  ye  were." 

Then  Sir  Hector  told  him  all,  how  Merlin 
had  brought  Arthur  to  him  at  his  birth,  and 
how  he  had  nourished  and  trained  him  by 
Merlin's  commandment. 

Arthur  was  sore  grieved  when  he  under- 
stood that  Sir  Hector  was  not  his  father. 

"  Sir,"  said  Hector,  "  will  ye  be  to  me  a  good 
and  gracious  lord  when  ye  are  king  ? " 

"  Else  were  I  to  blame,"  said  Arthur,  "  for 
ye  are  the  man  in  all  the  world  I  am  most 
beholden  to,  and  to  my  good  lady  and  mother 
your  wife,  that  hath  fostered  me  and  kept  me 
as  well  and  as  tenderly  as  her  own.  And  if 
ever  it  be  God's  will  that  I  be  king,  as  ye  say, 
ye  shall  desire  of  me  what  I  may  do,  and  I 
shall  not  fail  you.  God  forbid  I  should  fail 
you  while  you  and  I  live." 

Therewithal  they  went  all  three  unto  the 
archbishop  and  told  him  how  the  sword  was 
achieved  and  by  whom.  On  Twelfth  Day  all 
the  barons  came  to  the  churchyard,  and  he 
who  wished  essayed  to  take  the  sword.    But 


THE  CHOOSING  OF  A  KING  13 

there  before  them  all  there  was  none  that 
could  draw  it  save  Arthur.  Wherefore  many 
lords  were  angry  and  said  that  it  was  a  great 
shame  unto  them  all  and  unto  the  realm  to 
be  governed  by  a  boy,  and  he  of  no  high  blood. 
So  it  fell  out  that  the  crowning  of  a  king  was 
put  off  till  Candlemas,  when  all  the  barons 
should  meet  there  again.  (But  ten  knights 
were  ordained  to  watch  the  sword  by  day  and 
by  night.  They  set  a  pavilion  over  the  stone, 
and  five  always  watched.) 

At  Candlemas  many  more  great  lords  came 
thither  to  win  the  sword,  but  none  might  pre- 
vail. And  as  Arthur  did  at  Christmas,  so  he 
did  at  Candlemas,  and  pulled  out  the  sword 
easily.  Again  the  barons  were  sore  aggrieved, 
and  yet  again  they  delayed.  As  Arthur  did 
at  Candlemas,  so  did  he  once  more  at  Easter. 
And  still  they  would  not  crown  him  king. 
Then  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury  and  many 
of  the  best  knights  were  full  of  indignation, 
and  they  made  a  guard  of  the  most  worthy 
knights,  those  whom  King  Uther  had  loved 
best  and  trusted  most  in  his  day,  and  all  these, 


14  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

with  many  others,  were  always  about  Arthur 
day  and  night  until  the  feast  of  Pentecost. 

At  the  feast  of  Pentecost  all  manner  of  men 
essayed  once  more  to  pull  out  the  sword, 
but  still  none  might  prevail  but  Arthur. 
He  pulled  it  out  before  all  the  lords  and 
common-  people  who  were  there,  wherefore 
all  the  people  cried  out,  "  We  will  have 
Arthur  for  our  king ;  we  will  have  no  more 
delay,  for  we  all  see  that  it  is  God's  will  that 
he  shall  be  our  king,  and  he  that  holdeth  out 
against  him,  him  will  we  slay." 

Thereupon  they  all  kneeled  down,  both  rich 
and  poor,  and  cried  Arthur  mercy  because 
they  had  delayed  so  long.  And  Arthur  for- 
gave them,  and  took  the  sword  between  his 
hands  and  offered  it  up  on  the  altar  where 
the  archbishop  was.  So  was  he  made  knight 
by  the  best  man  that  was  there. 

Anon,   when    Arthur   had    been    made    a 
knight,  was  the  coronation  made,  and  there 
did  he  swear  to  his  lords  and  his  people  to  be* 
a  true  king,  and   to  stand   for  justice  from 
henceforth  all  the  days  of  his  life. 


THE  FOUNDING  OF  THE 
ROUND  TABLE 

M  For  many  a  petty  king  ere  Arthur  came 
Ruled  in  this  isle  and,  ever  waging  war 
Each  upon  other,  wasted  all  the  land." 

All  the  kingdom  was  in  distress  when 
Arthur  came  to  the  throne,  and  many  wrongs 
were  done  by  petty  lords  who  governed  small 
portions  of  the  land  and  cared  not  what 
happened  to  their  people  if  they  might  wage 
war  on  each  other  and  gain  more  power. 
Even  King  Uther  and  his  father  before  him 
had  never  subdued  all  these  lords  and  barons, 
for  some  lived  in  distant  and  lonely  parts  and 
were  so  powerful  that  none  dared  try  his 
might  against  them.  For  many  a  day  these 
barons  and  lords  refused  to  acknowledge 
Arthur  as  their  king,  but  ere  a  score  of  years 
had  passed  he  had  won  them  all  and  brought 
the  whole  land  under  his  rule,  both  northward 
into  Scotland,  and  westward  into  all  of  Wales, 

15 


1 6  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

and  to  the  south  and  to  the  east.  As  the 
chronicler  tells  it,  "  Many  kings  and  lords 
made  great  war  against  him  ;  but  well  Arthur 
overcame  them  all." 

That  Arthur  could  bring  all  this  about 
was  due  to  the  noble  prowess  of  his  knights 
of  the  Round  Table.  As  soon  as  he  became 
king  he  gathered  about  him  all  the  best 
knights  of  the  realm,  both  those  whom  he  had 
cause  to  know  were  mighty  and  those  whom 
Merlin  deemed  the  best  of  all.  They  had  been 
called  the  knighthood  errant  of  the  realm,  for 
they  wandered  through  all  the  land  and  across 
the  seas  seeking  adventure  and  taking  part  in 
tournaments  and  jousts  or  in  any  service  that 
came  in  their  path.  There  were  many  of 
these  knights  in  England,  but  none  had  ever 
gathered  them  together.  Each  went  his  own 
way  and  did  what  seemed  best  in  his  own  eyes. 

King  Arthur  sent  through  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  land,  summoning  those  whom 
he  had  chosen  as  the  best  of  these  knights  to 
come  together  and  form  with  him  a  brother- 
hood of  knighthood,  which  should  be  called 


1 8  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

the  Round  Table.  There  were  to  be  one 
hundred  and  fifty  in  all,  but  the  king  found 
only  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  who  could 
fulfill  all  his  wishes.  When  they  came  together 
they  were  the  flower  of  all  the  knights  of 
Christendom. 

There  in  Camelot  Arthur  had  built  a  mighty 
hall  wherein  the  brotherhood  should  meet, 
and  there  had  been  set  seats  for  all  the 
knights.  These  seats  the  archbishop  blessed 
in  the  presence  of  them  all,  and  when  it  was 
done,  and  they  sat  silent  before  him,  Merlin 
spoke  to  them,  saying,  "  Fair  sirs,  ye  must  all 
arise  and  come  to  King  Arthur  for  to  do  him 
homage." 

And  they  arose  and  did  their  homage 
gladly,  crying,  "  Be  thou  the  king,  and  we 
will  work  thy  will." 

Then  Arthur  spoke  to  them  as  they  stood 
before  him,  and  bound  them  to  himself  with 
solemn  vows.  He  charged  them  never  to  do 
outrage  nor  murder,  and  to  flee  treason  as  it 
were  a  plague ;  never  to  be  cruel,  but  to  give 
mercy,  and  always  to  aid  women  even  unto 


THE  VOWS  OF  THE  ROUND  TABLE   19 

death;  to  take  up  no  battles  for  money,  nor 
to  have  any  part  in  wrongful  quarrels.  King 
Arthur  made  each  knight  lay  his  hands  in  his 
and  swear 

"  To  reverence  the  King,  as  if  he  were 
His  conscience,  and  his  conscience  as  his  King, 
To  break  the  heathen  and  uphold  the  Christ, 
To  ride  abroad  redressing  human  wrongs, 
To  speak  no  slander,  no,  nor  listen  to  it, 
To  honor  his  own  word  as  if  his  God's, 
To  lead  sweet  lives  in  purest  chastity, 
To  love  one  maiden  only,  cleave  to  her, 
And  worship  her  by  years  of  noble  deeds." 

So  strait  were  the  vows  by  which  he  bound 
them,  that  when  they  rose  after  kneeling  and 
repeating  the  words  after  him,  some  of  the 
knights  were  pale  as  death,  others  flushed, 
and  others  stood  half  dazed  as  though  a  vision 
had  been  granted  them,  so  deeply  were  they 
moved.  And  when  they  turned  to  find  their 
seats  again,  behold  on  every  seat  was  written 
in  letters  of  gold  the  name  of  him  who  should 
sit  therein. 

Ere  they  separated  the  king  spoke  to  them 
of  their  land  and  all  they  might  do  for  it. 


20 


PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 


With  wise  and  cheerful  words  he  set  before 
them  his  thoughts  and  plans,  and  they  re- 
sponded gladly.  And  the  archbishop  blessed 
them  as  they  parted,  saying  in  solemn  tones, 

"  May  all  this  Order  of  the  Table  Round 
Fulfill  the  boundless  purpose  of  their  King ! " 

Thus  was  formed  this  fellowship,  this  fair 
order  of  the  Round  Table,  which  was  made 
up  of  the  flower  of  the  knighthood  of  the  time, 
and  was  the  beginning  of  a  new,  bright  age 
when  chivalry  and  honor  should  triumph  over 
misery  and  wrong. 


PERCEVAL 

I 

Of  Perceval 's  childhood 

In  the  fellowship  of  the  Round  Table  when 
it  was  founded  there  were  two  and  twenty 
vacant  seats,  and  for  these  places  there  was 
striving  by  many  a  noble  knight.  And  Arthur 
was  glad,  for  he  welcomed  every  brave  man 
and  true  that  came  to  his  court. 

One  of  those  that  came  into  the  fellowship 
and  won  great  honor,  so  that  he  was  one  of 
the  most  famous  knights,  was  Sir  Perceval, 
and  his  story  I  am  going  to  tell  you  as  it  is 
written  in  many  ancient  books  and  chronicles. 
Perceval's  father,  for  whom  he  was  named, 
was  a  knight  in  the  days  of  King  Uther.  He 
was  beloved  by  all  the  court  and  held  in  honor 
by  brave  knights  everywhere.  To  him  the 
king  had  given  in  marriage  his  sister,  the 
fair  Achefleur,  and  with  her  he  gave  great 
wealth  and  many  broad  lands. 


2  2  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

When  the  fair  Achefleur  and  the  mighty 
Perceval  were  married  there  was  great  rejoic- 
ing in  the  land,  and  after  the  wedding  there 
was  appointed  a  jousting  at  the  court  to  which 
all  the  knights  of  the  realm  were  bidden. 
There  at  that  tourney,  while  his  lady  sat  on 
the  wall  and  beheld  him,  Sir  Perceval  did 
great  deeds.  Knight  after  knight  rode  up  to 
tilt  with  him,  and  every  one  turned  back  crest- 
fallen with  his  shaft  broken.  Sixty  shafts  Sir 
Perceval  broke  that  day,  and  many  a  knight 
he  unhorsed  and  bare  out  of  his  saddle. 
Among  those  whom  he  defeated  was  a  power- 
ful and  famous  knight,  known  by  the  color  of 
his  armor  as  the  Red  Knight.  When  the 
tourney  was  done  they  gave  Sir  Perceval  the 
prize,  for  he  was  best  worthy,  and  he  bore  it 
to  his  bride,  who  was  right  joyful  over  the 
honor  in  which  her  lord  was  held.  All  gave 
him  praise,  for  he  had  proved  himself  the  best 
knight  —  all  save  the  Red  Knight.  He  had 
never  been  unhorsed  since  he  entered  the 
lists  of  knighthood,  and  he  rode  sullenly  away, 
thinking  evil  in  his  heart  against  Sir  Perceval 


A  JOUSTING  23 

For  a  year  Perceval  dwelt  quietly  at  home 
with  his  lady.  Then  a  son  was  born  to  them. 
(It  is  he  who  is  the  hero  of  our  tale.)  They 
named  him  Perceval  after  his  father,  and  so 
greatly  did  the  father  rejoice  that  a  boy  child 
had  been  born  to  him,  that  he  made  a  great 
feast  and  appointed  a  jousting  which  should 
follow  it.  When  the  Red  Knight  heard  that 
he  was  right  glad.  In  all  haste  he  put  on  his 
armor  and  rode  thither. 

On  the  first  day  of  the  tourney  Sir  Perceval 
did  passing  well  for  the  love  of  his  young  son. 
Knight,  duke,  baron,  and  earl  he  bore  down 
before  him,  and  all  who  looked  on  praised  his 
skill  and  called  him  the  best  knight  that  was 
there.  But  on  the  second  day  the  Red  Knight 
came,  and  there  before  the  eyes  of  all  he  slew 
Sir  Perceval.  When  he  had  done  that  wicked 
deed  he  turned  his  horse  and  rode  away,  and. 
none  dared  bid  him  abide,  for  he  had  slain 
the  best  of  them  all. 

Sorely  did  the  lady  Acherleur  grieve  when 
they  brought  home  Sir  Perceval  dead,  and  in 
that  hour  of  her  sorrow  she  made  a  mighty 


24  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

resolve,  that  her  young  son  should  never  take 
part  in  any  tourney.  Deeds  of  arms  and  skill 
of  sword  he  should  not  know,  but  into  the 
woods  she  would  take  him  and  there  she 
would  rear  him,  far  from  the  sound  of  battle 
and  tourney. 

"In  the  woods  should  he  be. 
There  should  he  nothing  see 
But  the  leaves  on  the  tree 
And  the  groves  so  gray, 
And  with  the  wild  beasts  play.'' 

Many  sought  to  hinder  her,  but  she  would 
hear  naught  of  their  reasons.  Her  boy  should 
never  know  the  jousts  or  tournament  that 
killed  his  noble  father. 

The  lady  Achefleur  took  her  leave  of  all  that 
she  had  known.  She  left  behind  her  bower 
and  hall  and  went  into  the  wood,  taking  with 
Jier  none  but  the  babe,  and  a  maiden  who 
should  serve  her.  Of  her  goods  would  she 
carry  none,  —  not  her  jewels,  nor  her  silken 
robes,  nor  her  richly  embroidered  hangings 
and  tapestries.  For  these  she  would  have  no 
use,  but  only  for  a  flock  of  goats,  whose  milk 


THE  CHILDHOOD  OF  PERCEVAL 


25 


would  give  her  food.  Of  all  her  lord's  fair 
gear,  his  sword  and  his  shield  and  his  costly 
armor,  would  she  take  naught  but  a  little 
spear  that  he  had  used  when  he  was  a  page. 
So  she  went  forth,  and  there  in  the  wood 
she  lived  for  many  a  year,  and  the  boy  Per- 
ceval grew  and  became  strong  and  tall  and 


good  to  look  upon.  Together  they  dwelt  in 
a  hut  in  the  wildwood,  ten  leagues  from 
any  dwelling. 

As  the  lad  Perceval  grew  he  learned  much 
of  the  lore  of  the  woods.  By  whistling  he  could 
call  to  him  the  beasts  of  the  woodland.  Never 
a  beast  roamed  the  forest  that  would  not  come 
at  his  call.  He  knew  many  strange  secrets 
about  the  birds  and  the  flowers  and  the  trees. 
And  he  could  run  swiftly  and  sling  a  stone 
and  throw  his  spear  with  strength.    But  of  the 


2  6  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

world  beyond  the  forest  he  knew  nothing. 
Of  courage  and  bravery  and  honor  his  mother 
taught  him  much.  All  the  knightly  virtues 
she  instructed  him  in,  but  of  knightly  lore  and 
of  arms  and  of  the  customs  of  castle  and  field 
she  taught  him  nothing.  For  fifteen  winters 
they  dwelt  there,  and  the  lad  was  fair  and  tall, 
and  his  mother  held  him  passing  dear. 

As  the  boy  grew  older  his  mother  bade  him 
pray  to  God  that  He  would  help  him  to  be  a 
good  man. 

11  Sweet  mother,"  said  Perceval,  "  what  kind 
of  a  God  is  this  to  whom  now  ye  bid  me  pray?" 

"  It  is  the  great  God  of  heaven,"  she  replied. 
"He  it  is  who  made  the  world,  and  all  that 
dwells  therein,  birds  and  beasts  and  men.  He 
has  all  power,  and  is  stronger  and  mightier 
than  any  living  thing,  and  more  beautiful 
than  aught  that  ye  can  ever  see.  To  Him 
you  must  pray." 

11  But  where  does  this  great  God  dwell, 
sweet  mother  ? " 

"  Everywhere,  my  son,  in  all  this  world  that 
He  has  made;  therefore  can  ye  pray  to  Him." 


PERCEVAL  AND  THREE  KNIGHTS        2  J 

II 

Of  Perceval's  meeting  with  three  knights 

As  Perceval  was  walking  one  day  in  the 
woodland  many  leagues  from  home,  he  heard 
a  strange  sound.  It  was  the  clanking  of  steel 
weapons  and  armor,  but  Perceval  knew  it  not, 
for  he  had  never  seen  a  man  in  armor.  Round 
the  turn  of  the  path  there  rode  three  knights, 
and  as  they  rode  their  coats  of  mail  jingled,  and 
their  arms  rattled,  and  their  lances  clashed 
upon  their  shields.  When  they  came  in  sight 
the  lad  was  dazzled  by  their  splendor,  for  the 
armor  glittered  from  helmet  to  spur,  and  the 
trappings  of  the  horses  shone  in  the  sun. 

"  These  are  the  gods  of  whom  my  mother 
has  told  me,"  he  thought  to  himself.  "  Surely 
they  are  more  beautiful  than  aught  else  in  the 
world,  and  they  shine  like  the  sun." 

He  was  afraid  before  them  and  fell  upon  his 
knees  in  the  path  and  began  to  repeat  a  prayer. 

Straightway  the  foremost  of  the  knights 
dismounted  (that  was  Gawain)  and  said,  "  My 
son,  who  art  thou,  and  what  wilt  thou  ?  " 


28  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

The  others  sat  on  their  steeds  and  gazed  in 
amazement  at  this  comely  lad  so  strangely 
clad  in  a  goatskin  garment  with  a  goatskin 
hood. 

Perceval  answered  :  "  Son  am  I  to  the  lady 
that  dwelleth  in  the  forest.  Tell  me  which 
one  of  you  all  three  is  the  great  God  of 
whom  my  mother  has  told  me  ? " 

Then  Gawain  spoke  full  fair  and  cour- 
teously :  "  Nay,  nay,  my  lad,  hold  us  not  to 
be  gods.    We  are  only  knights." 

"  And  what  manner  of  beast  may  knight 
be  ?  "  quoth  Perceval.  "  For  of  it  I  have  never 
heard.    Where  doth  it  dwell  ?  " 

"  Of  a  faith  I  will  tell  thee  truly.  T  is  a 
beast  that  is  strong  and  powerful  and  mighty 
above  all  other  beasts,  be  they  man  or  giant 
or  dragon.  And  it  dwelleth  in  city  and  court 
and  highway,  wherever  fair  adventure  may 
be  found  and  brave  service  done." 

"  Tell  me,  Knight-Beast,  what  dost  thou 
bear  on  thy  head  ?  And  what  is  that  which 
hangeth  at  thy  neck?  It  is  red  and  shineth 
in  the  sun." 


30  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

w  That  which  I  wear  on  my  head  is  a  helmet 
made  of  steel,  and  this  that  hangeth  from  my 
neck  is  a  shield,  banded  with  red  gold." 

"  But  of  what  use  is  it  ?  " 

"It  is  to  ward  off  the  blow  of  a  sword  or 
lance ;  but  tell  me,  lad,  didst  thou  never  see 
a  man  in  armor  ? " 

"  Nay,  kind  sir,  never ;  but,  I  pray  thee  by 
thy  courtesy,  tell  me  yet  one  thing  more. 
With  what  hast  thou  clad  thyself  that  seem- 
eth  to  be  of  many  tiny  rings  ?  " 

"  It  is  a  coat  of  mail ;  so  closely  are  these 
rings  woven  together  that  the  point  of  a  sword 
cannot  pierce  between  and  wound  me." 

"  And  what  hast  thou  girt  at  thy  side  ? 
Tell  me,  if  thou  wilt." 

"  That  is  the  sword,  which  is  the  badge  of 
knighthood,"  said  Gawain,  drawing  his  shin- 
ing blade  from  its  scabbard.  That  is  to  work 
against  all  those  who  are  doing  evil  in  this 
world,  for  remember  this,  my  son,  the  sword  of 
King  Arthur  is  not  given  for  idle  combat,  but 
to  be  wielded  in  worthy  causes,  and  woe  be- 
tide that  faithless  knight  that  useth  it  amiss." 


PERCEVAL  AND  GAWAIN  3 1 

"  Knight-Beast,"  quoth  Perceval,  "  could  I 
also  become  a  knight,  for  I  too  am  a  man  ? " 

Then  Gawain  looked  deep  into  the  eyes  of 
the  lad,  as  if  he  would  search  his  very  soul, 
and  said,  "  Wilt  thou  be  brave  and  valiant, 
and  never  turn  back  from  an  enemy  ? " 

"  I  will." 

"  Wilt  thou  flee  all  wrong  as  if  it  were  a 
plague,  and  follow  ever  after  purity,  temper- 
ance, and  reverence  ? " 

"  I  will." 

"  Of  a  truth,  I  believe  thou  wilt,"  said  the 
knight,  "  for  I  never  saw  fairer  lad,  nor  more 
honest." 

"  But  how  shall  I  become  a  knight  ?  " 

"  A  noble  king,  Arthur,  rules  in  this  land, 
who  is  the  best  knight  in  the  realm,  and  is 
head  over  all  the  knights.  By  him  canst  thou 
be  made  knight,  if  he  will  receive  thee.  But 
first  thou  must  go  to  thy  mother  and  ask  her 
if  thou  mayest." 

And  with  a  word  of  farewell  Gawain  rode 
away  with  his  companions,  and  the  boy  stood 
looking  after  them  until  they  were  out  of  sight. 


32  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

III 

Of  Perceval1  s  return  to  his  mother 

When  the  last  sound  of  clanking  armor 
had  died  away,  Perceval  turned  and  ran 
toward  home  in  all  haste.  His  mother  was 
awaiting  him  anxiously,  for  he  had  been  away 
longer  than  was  his  wont.  But  as  she  looked 
at  him  she  was  troubled,  and  said,  "  Where 
have  you  been,  fair  son  ?  Tell  me  what  aileth 
thee." 

And  the  boy  answered :  "  Mother,  I  will 
tell  thee  straight.  I  have  been  in  the  forest, 
and  there  I  have  seen  a  fair,  fair  sight." 

"  What  was  that,  my  son  ?  " 

"It  was  a  man  more  beautiful  than  any  I 
have  ever  seen.  At  first  I  thought  him  God, 
but  he  told  me  he  was  a  knight.  And,  mother, 
I  would  fain  be  a  knight  too,  and  I  must  go 
to  King  Arthur's  court." 

Then  his  mother  cried  out  in  her  sorrow : 
"Alas,  my  son!  Long  have  I  labored  and 
much  have  I  striven  that  thou  shouldest  know 
naught  of   knighthood   or  of  chivalry  or  of 


PERCEVAL'S  DEPARTURE  33 

aught  that  belongeth  to  the  world  of  arms. 
I  would  choose  that  thou  hadst  never  heard 
of  it." 

"  But,  mother,  sweet  mother,  may  I  not  go 
and  be  a  knight  ?  " 

"  Son,  thou  art  all  the  comfort  I  have.  God 
hath  left  me  nothing  more;  but  with  thee  I 
was  content." 

But  Perceval  heeded  not  what  his  mother 
said,  for  his  thoughts  were  full  of  the  wonder- 
ful sight  he  had  seen. 

"  Give  me  to  eat,"  he  exclaimed,  "  for  I 
would  away  to  the  court  of  the  king.  I  tell 
thee,  if  I  may  not  be  such  a  knight  as  I 
saw,  thou  shalt  have  little  joy  of  me  hence- 
forward." 

The  mother  knew  that  it  was  even  as  he 
had  said,  and  she  prepared  him  food  that  he 
might  be  strong  for  the  journey.  Garments 
she  could  not  provide,  but  he  must  go  in  the 
goatskin  garb  that  she  had  fashioned  for  him. 

Ere  Perceval  departed  his  mother  told  him 
many  things  which  he  should  heed  in  this  new 
world  whither  he  was  going. 


34  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

"  Fair  son,"  she  said,  "  thou  wilt  go  straight 
to  King  Arthur,  and  little  thou  knowest  of 
hall  or  bower.  Hearken  well  to  what  I  shall 
say  unto  thee.  When  thou  meetest  a  knight, 
doff  thy  hood,  for  so  wilt  thou  show  proper 
respect.  And  I  pray  thee,  company  not  with 
man  or  woman  save  those  of  gentle  birth  or 
breeding.  If  thou  findest  anywhere,  be  it  far 
or  near,  a  lady  who  is  in  need,  succor  her  even 
to  the  measure  of  thy  life.  And  wherever 
thou  art,  honor  thine  elders  and  have  respect 
unto  thy  king.  So  shalt  thou  prosper  and  be 
worthy  of  the  knighthood  thou  seekest." 

Then  his  mother  embraced  and  kissed 
Perceval,  and  he  went  his  way.  Many  days  he 
journeyed  over  vale  and  hill  till  he  came  to  the 
court  of  that  mighty  and  courteous  lord,  King 
Arthur. 


Ax' 


PERCEVAL  AT  COURT  35 

IV 

Of  Perceval  at  court 

"  Yesterday  saw  I  knights  three, 
Such  an  one  shalt  thou  make  me." 

The  knights  of  the  Round  Table  were 
seated  at  meat  when  Perceval  came  to  Came- 
lot ;  but  the  lad  waited  not.  Clad  in  his  goat- 
skin coat  he  strode  into  the  hall,  and  walked 
to  the  head  of  the  board,  and  doffed  his  hood. 
The  knights  looked  up  in  amazement  at 
this  bold  youth  who  ventured  thus  to  enter 
Arthur's  hall,  and  marveled  at  his  rough 
garments  and  his  great  stature,  but  above 
all  at  his  beauty,  for  the  lad  was  passing  fair. 

"  Friend,"  quoth  the  king,  "  come  eat  with 
us.  Then  shalt  thou  tell  me  who  thou  art 
and  what  thou  seekest." 

"  Nay,"  said  Perceval,  "  I  will  tell  thee  be- 
fore I  eat.  From  the  great  forest  I  come, 
and  I  would  be  one  of  thy  knights." 

Those  who  sat  by  smiled  at  this  bold  re- 
quest, but  the  king  said  gently,  "  What  know- 
est  thou  of  knighthood,  my  son  ? " 


36  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

"  Naught  know  I,  save  what  I  learned  from 
one  of  thine  own  fair  knights  whom  I  met  in 
the  forest,"  and  he  told  him  of  his  meeting 
with  Sir  Gawain.  (Gawain  had  not  yet  re- 
turned from  his  quest.) 

As  the  lad  talked,  King  Arthur  looked  upon 
him  and  marked  well  his  sturdy  limbs  and 
his  fair  body  and  his  honest  face,  and  ever  he 
sought  in  his  mind  who  the  boy  might  be. 
There  was  in  his  face  the  likeness  to  one 
whom  he  had  seen,  but  he  knew  not  that 
he  was  the  son  of  that  famous  knight,  Sir 
Perceval,  who  had  been  King  Uther's  friend. 
Ever  as  he  looked  his  heart  went  out  to  him 
the  more..  The  lad  finished  his  tale  with  the 
words,  "Therefore  am  I  come  to  thee  to  see 
if  thou  wilt  make  me  a  knight." 

And  Arthur  answered,  "  Sit  thee  down  and 
eat,  my  son,  for  thou  hast  come  a  long  journey. 
Afterwards  I  will  do  with  thee  what  I  can,  for 
thou  must  learn  many  things  before  thou 
canst  be  a  knight." 

They  brought  Perceval  to  a  seat  at  the  foot 
of  the  king's  table  and  gave  him  meat  and 


PERCEVAL'S  LESSON  IN  ARMS  37 

drink  in  plenty.  And  the  lad  astonished  all 
by  his  great  appetite,  for  he  had  gone  long 
without  food.  As  he  ate  he  gazed  about  him 
and  saw  the  shields  that  hung  over  each  man's 
seat.  Some  were  richly  carved  and  blazoned, 
for  these  knights  had  done  many  noble  deeds ; 
and  others  merely  carved,  and  some  few  were 
blank,  for  these  belonged  to  those  who  had 
come  but 'lately  into  the  fellowship. 

When  Perceval  had  finished  he  wandered 
forth  from  the  castle  hall  and  met  a  knight 
who  stood  beside  the  door.  (Him  Arthur  had 
sent  there  to  meet  the  boy.)  Perceval  doffed 
his  hood  as  his  mother  had  taught  him,  and 
the  knight  led  him  away  to  give  him  his  first 
lesson  in  the  use  of  arms. 

He  took  him  to  a  huge  armory  which  was 
at  the  side  of  the  court  and  taught  him  the 
names  of  the  weapons.  First  he  gave  to  him 
the  lance  and  told  him  how  he  should  hold 
that,  and  then  the  shield  which  he  must 
grasp  with  his  left  hand  to  protect  himself 
against  the  attack  of  the  enemy.  When  he 
had  showed  him  these,  he  asked  him,  "  If  you 


38  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

met  a  knight  and  he  struck  you,  what  would 
you  do  ?  " 

M  Strike  back  !  "  answered  Perceval  boldly. 

M  With  what  would  you  strike  ?  " 

"With  the  lance." 

"  And  if  your  lance  broke  against  his  shield 
or  was  bent  by  the  force  of  his  charge,  what 
would  you  do  ?  " 

"  I  would  run  at  him  with  my  fists." 

"  Ah,  no  !  "  said  his  master.  M  That  you 
must  not  do,  for  that  is  against  the  rules  of 
knighthood.  You  must  have  a  sword  and 
learn  to  fence  with  it.  That  will  I  teach  you 
next,  and  then  you  can  attack  him  with  that ; 
but  knights  fight  not  with  their  fists." 

Last  of  all  he  told  him  how  when  he  won 
his  arms  he  must  care  for  them  and  polish 
them  and  never  leave  them  dull  or  damp,  for 
to  leave  his  arms  to  rust  was  the  sign  of  a 
careless  knight. 

But  ere  Perceval  laid  aside  his  goatskin 
coat  he  was  destined  to  other  adventures. 
When  his  lesson  was  done  the  knight  brought 
him    back    to    the   castle    hall    where    King 


PERCEVAL'S  FIRST  ADVENTURE         39 

Arthur  and  his  knights  were  still  sitting 
about  the  table,  and  hardly  had  they  taken 
their  seats  when  there  was  a  commotion  at 
the  door,  and  into  the  hall  there  rode  a 
mounted  knight. 

Such  a  knight  Perceval  had  never  seen. 
He  was  tall  and  strong,  and  he  was  clad  all 
in  red.  His  mantle  and  his  hood,  the  plume 
of  his  helmet,  and  even  the  fastenings  of  his 
spurs  were  red.  Right  into  the  hall  he  rode 
his  steed,  and  from  the  table  in  front  of  the 
king  he  seized  a  cup  of  rich  red  gold  which 
was  rilled  with  wine.  Before  them  all  he 
drank  that  wine,  and  in  a  loud  voice  he  called 
them  recreants  and  cowards,  both  king  and 
knights  and  all  that  were  assembled.  Then, 
looking  neither  to  right  nor  to  left,  he  rode 
out  of  the  hall  and  left  them  sitting  there. 

Before  any  could  move  from  their  places, 
Perceval  rushed  from  the  hall  and  leaped 
upon  the  mare  that  had  brought  him  to 
Camelot,  and  rode  after  him.  Yet  he  knew 
not  that  this  was  the  Red  Knight  who  had 
slain  his  father. 


40  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

Swiftly  he  rode  after  him,  and  when  he 
came  near  he  called  loudly  to  the  Red  Knight, 
"  How,  man  on  the  red  steed !  bring  again 
the  king's  cup,  or  with  my  dart  I  will  slay  thee." 

The  knight  turned  to  see  who  was  calling 
to  him,  and  when  he  saw  the  boy  in  goatskin 
on  the  mare,  he  laughed  loudly  and  said, 
"  If  thou  comest  nearer  me,  thou  shalt  rue  it. 
thou  fool." 

So  little  did  he  respect  him  that  he  lifted 
the  vizor  of  his  helmet,  so  that  he  might  see 
him  more  plainly,  and  mocked  him  for  his 
goatskin  coat  and  his  beardless  face. 

But  Perceval  said,  "  Whether  I  be  fool  or 
not  we  shall  soon  see." 

In  his  hand  he  held  the  spear  that  was  his 
father's,  that  he  had  used  as  a  boy  in  the 
woods,  and  he  threw  it  at  the  knight.  Right 
well  did  he  aim  and  strongly  did  he  throw, 
and  the  spear  struck  the  Red  Knight  in  the 
eye  where  he  had  opened  his  vizor,  and  he 
fell  from  his  horse  dead. 

Then  Perceval  came  near  to  despoil  him 
of  his  armor,  but  he  could  not  find  an  opening 


PERCEVAL'S  ARMOR  4 1 

anywhere.  So  cunningly  was  the  armor  laced 
and  fastened  that  the  boy  could  find  no  way 
to  get  within.  While  he  was  working  at  it  a 
knight  came  up  who  had  ridden  after  him 
from  the  castle  hall  when  he  sped  away  so 
suddenly.  He  was  the  one  whom  Arthur  had 
appointed  to  teach  the  boy  and  instruct  him  in 
the  use  of  arms.  He  showed  him  how  to  un- 
lace the  armor  and  how  to  slip  it  off,  and 
when  they  had  disarmed  the  Red  Knight  he 
put  it  on  the  boy  over  his  goatskin  garments. 
Thus  did  Perceval  gain  his  first  suit  of  armor 
from  the  knight  who  had  foully  slain  his 
father. 

That  was  the  first  adventure  that  Perceval 
had  at  King  Arthurs  court.  He  did  not  re- 
turn to  the  castle  hall,  but  sent  back  to  the 
king  the  cup  which  the  Red  Knight  had  stolen, 
and  rode  away  in  quest  of  adventure.  The 
tales  of  his  brave  deeds  and  of  the  strange 
sights  that  he  saw  and  of  the  lessons  that  he 
learned  would  fill  many  books.  Ever  word  of 
his  simplicity  and  his  bravery  came  to  the 
ears  of  King  Arthur,  and  one  day  the  king 


42  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

set  out  with  three  of  his  knights,  Gawain, 
I  wain,  and  Kay,  to  find  Perceval,  whose 
parentage  he  had  discovered,  and  bring  him 
back  to  the  court.  They  met  him  at  a  tourney 
which  was  being  held  in  the  west  of  England, 
and  they  knew  him  by  his  red  armor,  but  he 
knew  them  not.  So  they  cast  lots  who  should 
joust  with  him  and  the  lot  fell  to  Gawain. 
For  an  hour  the  two  fought  together,  and 
neither  could  prevail  against  the  other.  But 
Perceval  marveled  at  Gawain's  strength  and 
skill  and  knew  him  for  the  best  knight  he 
had  ever  met.  At  last  they  broke  their  spears 
against  each  other,  and  Gawain  cried  truce, 
and  told  Perceval  who  he  was,  and  brought 
him  to  King  Arthur  and  his  companions. 

"  Much  have  I  fought,"  said  Perceval  when 
he  stood  before  the  king,  "  but  yet  I  am  not 
a  knight." 

There  on  the  spot  Arthur  made  him  kneel 
down  before  him,  and  gave  him  three  strokes 
on  the  shoulder,  and  said  to  him,  "  Rise,  Sir 
Perceval,  loyal  knight  in  the  court  of  King 
Arthur." 


SIR  PERCEVAL'S  QUEST  43 

V 

Of  Sir  Perceval  and  his  mother 

"  Blithe  shall  I  never  be 
Till  I  my  mother  see, 
Or  know  how  she  fare." 

King  Arthur  urged  Sir  Perceval  to  return 
to  the  court,  where  he  would  make  a  feasting 
in  his  honor ;  but  he  remembered  his  mother 
and  declared  that  he  must  find  her  or  he  would 
never  be  happy  again.  Before  them  all  he  made 
a  vow  that  he  would  not  ride  horse  nor  wear 
armor  until  he  had  seen  her.  He  laid  aside 
his  armor  and  put  on  his  goatskin  coat,  and 
went  away  into  the  forest,  saying  that  he  would 
never  come  out  again  till  he  had  found  her. 

Seven  days  and  nights  he  wandered,  and 
still  he  could  not  find  her.  In  all  that  time  he 
touched  neither  meat  nor  drink,  so  full  was  he 
of  care.  On  the  ninth  day  he  came  to  a  well 
which  was  near  his  former  home,  and  there  he 
drank.  As  he  went  forth  refreshed,  he  came  all 
at  once  upon  her,  but  she  was  sorely  changed. 
She  stared  at  him  with  wild  eyes,  and  cried  out, 
"Alas!  such  a  son  once  I  had." 


She  began  to  call  and  cry, 
' '  Such  a  son  once  had  1. " 


44 


SIR  PERCEVAL  AND  HIS  MOTHER      45 

Then  his  heart  was  lightened,  and  he  took 
her  up  upon  his  back  (little  was  his  pride) 
and  ran  with  her  to  a  castle  that  was  near 
the  edge  of  the  wood.  The  porter  at  the  gate 
stared  when  he  saw  Sir  Perceval,  but  he  let 
him  in,  and  they  wrapped  his  mother  in  soft 
coverings  and  laid  her  on  a  silken  couch  and 
gave  her  a  potion  to  drink.  She  fell  asleep, 
and  there  she  lay  for  three  days  and  three 
nights.  In  all  that  time  there  was  no  thought 
in  the  castle  for  any  but  her,  and  some  one 
watched  ever  by  her  day  and  night. 

At  last  she  waked,  and  the  strangeness  was 
gone  from  her  look  and  her  mind  was  clear. 
Together  Sir  Perceval  and  his  mother  thanked 
God,  and  when  she  had  been  clad  in  soft  gray 
and  green  robes,  Sir  Perceval  took  her  home 
to  the  court.  All  welcomed  him  gladly  and 
gave  greeting  to  the  lady  Achefleur,  who  had 
returned  after  so  many  years ;  and  they  dwelt 
there  together  happily.  Sir  Perceval  had  many 
adventures  and  did  many  noble  deeds,  and 
came  to  be  one  of  the  chief  knights  of  all  the 
goodly  fellowship  of  the  Round  Table. 


SIR  GAWAIN  AND  THE 
GREEN  KNIGHT 

I 

How  Arthur  held  a  feast  at  Camelot 

At  Christmastide  King  Arthur  held  a 
high  feast  at  Camelot,  and  thither  came 
many  a  comely  lord  and  lovely  lady,  and  all 
the  noble  brotherhood  of  the  Round  Table. 
They  held  rich  revels  with  merriment  and 
glee.  Now  they  would  sally  forth  to  joust 
right  gayly  together,  and  again  they  would 
make  the  high  hall  ring  with  the  sound  of 
carols  and  dancing.  The  feast  was  held  for 
fifteen  days  with  all  the  mirth  that  men  could 
devise.  Hall  and  chamber  were  crowded  with 
the  loveliest  ladies  and  the  bravest  knights 
that  ever  lived,  and  Arthur  was  the  comeliest 
king  that  ever  held  a  court. 

On  New  Year's  Day  a  double  portion  was 

served  at  the  table  of  state,  and  thither  came 

46 


48  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

the  king  with  all  his  knights  from  the  service 
in  the  chapel.  They  greeted  each  other  for 
the  New  Year,  and  gave  rich  gifts  one  to 
another,  and  laughed  and  rejoiced  together. 

But  when  they  were  all  served  Arthur 
would  not  eat,  for  he  had  a  custom  that  on 
a  feast  day  he  would  neither  eat  nor  drink 
till  he  had  heard  some  strange  adventure,  or 
knightly  deed,  or  till  some  stranger  knight 
or  distressed  damsel  had  given  a  challenge 
or  sought  redress  of  the  knights  of  the  Round 
Table.  With  the  sound  of  trumpets  and  the 
waving  of  banners  the  first  course  of  that 
feast  was  brought  in  and  served,  and  so  great 
was  the  abundance  that  the  serving  men  could 
scarce  find  place  on  the  tables  for  the  dainties. 
Each  helped  himself  as  he  liked  best,  but  still 
Arthur  sat  at  the  head  of  the  board,  and 
though  he  made  much  mirth  yet  would  he 
not  eat. 

Suddenly  there  rushed  in  at  the  hall  door 
a  man  terrible  to  look  upon.  He  was  taller 
and  broader  and  mightier  than  any  man  that 
was  ever  seen,  so  that  he  seemed  as  if  he 


THE  GREEN  KNIGHT  49 

were  a  giant.  Yet  he  was  but  a  man  clad 
in  knight's  armor,  and  the  knights  marveled 
most  at  his  color,  for  he  was  green  all  over. 
His  coat  and  his  mantle  were  of  green,  and 
his  hood  and  his  hose  and  all  his  vestures. 
And  the  trappings  of  his  steed  were  all  of 
green,  even  to  the  saddlebow  and  stirrups, 
and  his  horse  was  green  and  strong  and 
hard  to  hold,  so  that  none  but  a  mighty 
man  might  ride  him.  But  most  marvelous 
of  all  were  his  hair  and  his  thick  beard,  that 
were  green  as  any  bush. 

The  knight  bore  neither  shield  nor  spear 
nor  helmet,  but  in  one  hand  he  held  a  bough 
of  holly,  that  is  the  greenest  of  all  trees  in 
winter,  and  in  the  other  he  bore  an  ax,  huge 
and  uncomely,  a  cruel  weapon  with  strong 
staff  and  sharp,  keen  blade.  He  rode  into 
the  hall  and  drove  straight  to  the  table  of 
state,  which  was  set  on  a  platform  above  the 
rest.  He  greeted  no  man,  nor  looked  at  any. 
The  first  words  he  spoke  were  :  "  Where  is  the 
ruler  of  this  assembly?  I  would  gladly  look 
upon  that  man  and  have  speech  with  him.1' 


50  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

All  had  sat  silent  to  see  so  strange  a  sight 
as  a  man  and  his  steed  both  green  as  grass, 
and  many  had  thought  this  was  some  fairy 
prince  who  had  come  among  them.  Whether 
they  were  right  we  shall  see. 

But  Arthur  had  no  fear,  and  he  answered 
him  courteously :  "  Sir,  thou  art  welcome  to 
this  place.  Lord  of  this  hall  am  I,  and  men 
call  me  Arthur.  Light  thee  down  and  bide 
awhile,  and  what  thy  will  is,  that  shall  we 
learn  hereafter." 

"  Nay,"  quoth  the  stranger,  M  it  is  not  my 
errand  to  tarry  in  this  hall ;  but  the  fame  of 
thy  people  and  thy  city  is  lifted  up  on  high, 
and  thy  men  are  held  the  best  of  all  that 
wear  armor.  The  wisest  and  the  worthiest 
in  the  world  are  they,  and  well  proved  in 
knightly  sports.  And  here,  I  am  told,  is 
fair  courtesy ;  therefore  have  I  come  hither, 
bearing  the  holly  bough  in  peace.  For  had  I 
chosen  to  journey  in  warlike  guise,  I  have  at 
home  both  shield  and  helmet  and  spear.  But 
if  ye  be  as  bold  as  all  men  say,  ye  will  grant 
me  the  boon  I  ask." 


THE  CHALLENGE  5  I 

-  Sir  knight,"  said  Arthur,  M  if  thou  cravest 
battle  here,  thou  shalt  not  fail  to  find  a  foe." 

"  Nay,"  quoth  the  knight,  "  I  seek  no  fight. 
In  faith,  those  on  the  benches  here  are  but 
beardless  children.  Were  I  clad  in  armor 
there  is  no  man  here  to  match  me.  There- 
fore I  ask  in  this  court  but  a  Christmas  jest. 
If  there  be  any  here  so  bold  as  to  dare  me 
one  stroke  for  another,  to  him  will  I  give  this 
ax.  I  will  abide  the  first  blow  with  it  un- 
armed as  I  am.  If  any  man  is  bold  enough 
to  come  to  me  here  and  take  this  ax,  I  will 
abide  his  stroke ;  but  thou  shalt  give  me  the 
right  to  deal  him  a  stroke  in  return  in  a 
twelvemonth  from  this  day.  Now  haste,  and 
let  us  see  whether  any  here  dare  abide  my 
words." 

Then  there  was  a  stillness  in  the  hall,  and 
every  man  pondered  these  strange  words. 
And  the  Green  Knight  gazed  at  the  com- 
pany from  under  his  bushy  green  brows  and 
frowned  and  twisted  his  beard. 

"  What ! "  he  exclaimed  loudly ;  "  is  this 
Arthur's    hall,    and    are    these    the    knights 


52  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

whose  prowess  is  told  in  many  realms?  Is 
the  Round  Table  overthrown  by  one  man's 
speech,  since  all  keep  silence  for  dread  ere 
ever  they  have  seen  a  blow  ?  " 

With  that  he  laughed  so  loudly  that  the 
blood  rushed  into  the  king's  fair  face;  he 
waxed  wroth,  as  did  all  his  knights,  and 
sprang  to  his  feet,  and  said :  "  Foolish  is  thy 
asking,  and  as  thy  folly  has  asked  so  shalt 
thou  be  answered.  Give  me  thine  ax,  and  I 
will  grant  thee  the  boon  thou  hast  desired." 

But  ere  the  king  had  finished  speaking, 
Gawain,  his  nephew,  had  knelt  before  him  and 
besought  that  this  favor  be  granted  him,  that 
he  rather  than  his  lord  take  up  the  challenge ; 
for  though  he  was  less  mighty,  yet  would  his 
loss  be  therefore  less  felt.  And  all  the  knights 
rose  and  spoke  with  one  voice  that  the  king 
should  leave  this  adventure  to  Gawain. 

Gawain  stepped  to  the  stranger  and  took 
from  his  hand  the  ax,  and  the  Green  Knight 
asked  him,  saying,  "  What  is  thy  name  ?  " 

"  Gawain  am  I,"  quoth  the  knight ;  "  I  give 
thee  this  buffet,  let  what  may  come  of  it,  and 


THE  MARVEL  53 

at  this  time  twelvemonth  I  will  take  another 
from  thee." 

:<  That  pleaseth  me  well,"  said  the  Green 
Knight. 

"  But  where  shall  I  seek  thee  ?  "  said 
Gawain. 

"  That  will  I  tell  thee  when  I  have  taken 
the  blow." 

The  Green  Knight  bared  his  neck  and 
bowed  his  head,  and  Gawain  let  fall  the  ax 
with  a  mighty  blow.  Straight  through  the 
neck  it  smote,  and  the  head  fell  to  the 
ground,  but  the  Green  Knight  faltered  not 
nor  fell.  With  his  hand  he  lifted  the  head 
and  stepped  into  the  saddle,  still  holding  it ; 
and  behold !  as  he  turned  the  face  to  Gawain 
the  lips  moved,  and  it  said :  "  Come  thou  to 
the  Green  Chapel,  Gawain.  Seek  it  till  thou 
find  it.  There  shalt  thou  receive  a  blow  on 
New  Year's  Day.  Come,  or  thou  shalt  ever 
be  called  a  recreant." 

With  that  he  turned  his  bridle  and  rode  out 
of  the  hall,  and  all  marveled.  Though  Arthur 
was  astonished  in  his  heart,  yet  he  gave  no 


54  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

sign  of  it,  nor  did  Gawain.  But  the  king 
spake  to  the  ladies,  saying:  "  Be  not  dis- 
mayed. Such  craft  is  well  suited  to  Christmas- 
tide,  when  we  seek  wonders' and  jest,  laughter 
and  song.  Now  I  may  get  me  to  meat,  for  I 
have  seen  a  marvel  I  may  not  soon  forget." 

Then  the  king  and  the  good  knight  Gawain 
sat  down  at  the  board,  and  men  served  them 
with  a  double  portion,  as  was  fitting  for  the 
noblest.  With  minstrelsy  and  holiday  making 
the  day  wore  away,  and  none  spoke  of  the 
strange  sight  they  had  seen,  but  it  lay  ever 
in  the  minds  of  Gawain  and  King  Arthur. 


GAWAIN'S  QUEST  55 

II 

How  Gawain  set  out  o?i  his  quest 

Now  the  year  passed  quickly,  winter  and 
spring  and  summer.  With  the  autumn  Sir 
Gawain  bethought  him  oft  of  the  dangerous 
journey  that  was  before  him.  On  Allhallow's 
Day  Arthur  made  a  great  feast  for  his  nephew's 
sake,  and  though  they  jested  together  and 
spoke  no  word  of  it,  yet  all  were  in  sorrow  for 
fear  of  what  might  befall  that  gentle  knight. 

After  the  meat  Gawain  turned  to  his  uncle 
and  said :  "  Liege  lord  of  my  life,  leave  from 
you  I  seek.  Ye  know  without  more  words 
what  must  be.  To-morrow  am  I  bound  to  set 
forth  in  search  of  the  Green  Knight." 

Then  all  the  noblest  knights  came  together, 
both  Lancelot  and  Perceval  and  Kay  and 
many  another.  They  drew  near  to  Gawain, 
and  there  was  much  sorrow  that  so  worthy  a 
knight  should  go  weaponless  to  seek  a  deadly 
blow.  But  Gawain  made  ever  good  cheer  and 
said,  M  Nay,  wherefore  should  I  shrink  back  ? 
What  may  a  man  do  but  try  his  fate  ?  " 


56 


PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 


All  day  he  dwelt  there  with  Arthur,  and  on 
the  morrow  he  arose  betimes  and  asked  for 
his  armor,  and  they  brought  it  to  him.  First 
a  rich  carpet  was  stretched  over  the  floor,  and 
the  knight  stepped  thereon.  He  was  clad  in 
a  doublet  of  silk  with  a  close  hood  furred  with 


costly  skins.  Then  they  put  steel  shoes  upon 
his  feet,  and  wrapped  his  legs  with  steel 
casings  and  polished  kneecaps  clasped  with 
gold.  They  cased  his  thighs  in  armor  and 
brought  him  a  coat  of  mail  of  bright  steel 
rings  sewed  on  a  fair  stuff.  With  elbow-pieces 
and  polished  braces  and  gloves  of  mail  they 
covered   him,  and  all   the   goodly  gear  that 


GA WAIN'S  QUEST  57 

should  shield  him  in  his  need,  and  over  it  all 
they  cast  a  rich  robe  of  red  velvet  whereon 
was  emblazoned  in  precious  stones  his  coat  of 
arms.  When  they  had  set  on  his  spurs  of  gold, 
that  none  but  the  highest  knights  might  wear, 
and  had  girt  on  his  sword  with  a  silken  girdle, 
he  was  fully  clad  ;  and  his  harness  was  costly, 
for  the  least  loop  or  latchet  gleamed  with  gold. 
Then  went  he  to  the  chapel  and  made  his 
prayer  and  laid  his  offering  on  the  altar,  and 
afterwards  he  came  before  the  king  and  took 
leave  of  him  and  all  the  lords  and  ladies. 

With  that  Gringalet,  his  steed,  was  ready, 
and  all  his  trappings  and  his  saddle  and  his 
bridle  shone  with  gold. 

And  Gawain  took  his  helmet  and  set  it  on 
his  head  and  fastened  it,  and  he  grasped  in 
his  hand  his  shield  which  was  of  bright  red, 
whereon  was  painted  a  knot  of  gleaming  gold. 
Now  was  Sir  Gawain  ready,  and  he  took  his 
lance  and  bade  them  all  farewell,  as  he  thought 
forever.  He  smote  his  steed  with  his  spurs, 
and  he  sprang  on  his  way  so  swiftly  that  the 
sparks  flew  from  the  stones  after  him. 


58  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

III 
What  befell  Gawain  on  his  way  to  the  Green  Chapel 

By  many  a  wild  road  Sir  Gawain  made  his 
way,  inquiring  ever  after  the  Knight  of  the 
Green  Chapel,  but  none  had  heard  of  him. 
It  would  take  too  long  to  tell  the  tenth  part 
of  his  adventures.  He  fought  with  dragons 
and  wolves,  with  wild  boars  and  bulls,  with 
men  and  giants.  Had  he  not  been  a  doughty 
knight  and  brave  he  would  doubtless  have 
been  slain  on  the  road. 

On  Christmas  eve  as  Gawain  rode  through 
a  wood  he  saw  before  him  a  fair  castle,  stand- 
ing on  a  mound  and  surrounded  by  a  moat. 
Then  was  he  right  glad,  for  the  way  had  been 
lonely  and  night  was  falling,  and  he  rode 
gayly  toward  the  great  gate.  But  the  bridge 
over  the  moat  was  drawn  up  and  the  gates 
were  shut  fast.  The  walls  of  that  castle  were 
strong  and  thick,  and  they  were  set  deep  in 
the  water  and  rose  aloft  to  a  great  height. 
They  were  of  heavy  stone,  carved  beneath  the 
battlements   with   fair  carvings,   and   turrets 


GAWAIN  AT  THE  CASTLE 


59 


were  set  in  the  walls  with  many  a  loophole. 
A  better  castle  for  defense  Sir  Gawain  had 
never  seen,  but  he  thought  it  fair  enough  if 
he  might  find  shelter  there  that  night.  So  he 
called  aloud,  and  there  came  a  porter  and 
greeted  the  knight  and  asked  him  his  errand. 


"  Good  sir,"  quoth  Gawain,  "  will  you  go  to 
the  high  lord  of  this  castle  and  crave  for  me 
a  lodging  ?  " 

u  Yea,"  quoth  the  porter,  M  in  sooth  I  trow 
you  will  be  welcome  to  dwell  here  so  long  as 
you  like." 


60  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

Then  he  went  and  came  again  swiftly,  and 
many  folk  with  him,  to  receive  the  knight. 
They  let  down  the  drawbridge,  and  came  and 
knelt  down  on  the  cold  earth  to  give  him 
worthy  welcome,  and  then  they  opened  wide 
the  gate,  and  he  bade  them  rise,  and  rode  over 
the  bridge.  Men  held  his  stirrup  while  he 
dismounted,  and  took  and  stabled  his  steed. 
Knights  and  esquires  came  to  bring  him  into 
the  castle  hall,  and  when  he  raised  his  helmet, 
many  stood  ready  to  take  it  from  his  hand,  and 
his  sword  and  shield  as  well. 

Sir  Gawain  gave  them  all  good  greeting, 
and  they  led  him,  clad  in  his  fair  armor, 
to  the  hall,  where  a  great  fire  was  burning 
brightly  on  the  hearth ;  and  the  lord  of  the 
castle  came  forth  to  meet  the  knight. 

"  Ye  are  welcome,"  he  said,  "  to  do  here  as 
ye  like.  All  that  is  here  is  your  own,  to  have 
at  your  will  and  wish." 

Of  all  the  welcome  that  they  gave  Sir 
Gawain  in  that  castle  I  would  fain  tell  you, 
but  ye  may  well  believe  that  they  rejoiced 
when  they  found  that  Sir  Gawain,  of  the  court 


GA WAIN'S  WELCOME  6 1 

of  King  Arthur,  had  come  to  keep  Christmas 
with  them.  They  put  on  him  rich  robes,  and 
served  him  many  dainties,  and  one  said  to 
another,  "  Now  shall  we  see  courteous  man- 
ners and  hear  noble  speech,  since  here  we 
have  welcomed  the  fine  father  of  knightly 
courtesy." 

When  evening  was  come  the  lady  of  the 
castle  came  to  greet  him,  and  she  was  won- 
drous fair  in  face  and  figure  and  coloring. 
When  Gawain  saw  that  fair  lady,  who  looked 
on  him  graciously,  he  took  her  lightly  in  his 
arms  and  kissed  her  courteously  and  greeted 
her  in  knightly  wise.  She  hailed  him  as  a 
friend,  and  he  quickly  begged  to  be  reckoned 
as  her  servant,  if  she  so  willed.  With  gay 
words  and  merry  games  they  passed  that 
evening  together,  and  the  lord  and  his  lady 
thought  only  how  they  might  gladden  their 
guest,  the  noble  knight. 

To  tell  of  the  joy  of  that  Christmas  feast 
that  they  held  on  the  morrow  would  take 
too  long.  Three  days  they  feasted,  but  on  the 
fourth  day  Gawain  would  bid  his  kind  host 


62  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

farewell.  The  lord  asked  him  full  courteously 
what  errand  had  driven  him  forth  from  King 
Arthur's  court  at  this  time  of  joy  and  gladness. 

"Ye  say  well,"  answered  Gawain.  '  'Tis  a 
high  quest  only  that  could  have  driven  me 
forth.  I  am  summoned  to  a  certain  place,  and 
I  know  not  where  in  the  world  I  may  find  it, 
and  there  must  I  be  on  New  Year's  morn. 
Tell  me  truly  if  ye  ever  heard  of  the  Green 
Chapel,  and  the  Green  Knight  that  keeps  it, 
for  I  have  sworn  a  solemn  compact  to  be 
there  in  three  days'  time,  and  I  would  as 
fain  fall  dead  as  fail  of  mine  errand." 

Then  the  lord  laughed  merrily  and  said : 
"  Now  must  ye  surely  stay,  for  I  will  show  you 
the  Green  Chapel.  Ye  can  take  your  ease  till 
the  fourth  day,  for  't  is  not  two  miles  hence." 

At  that  word  was  Gawain  glad,  and  he 
laughed  gayly  and  said,  "  Now  is  my  quest 
achieved,  and  gladly  will  I  tarry  at  your  will 
and  do  as  ye  ask." 

To  his  lady  the  lord  sent  word  that  Gawain 
would  stay  with  them,  and  she  came,  and  they 
rejoiced  together.    In  merry  jest  the  lord  said 


THE  COVENANT  63 

to  Gawain  before  his  lady,  "  Ye  have  promised 
to  do  the  thing  I  ask  you ;  will  ye  hold  to 
this  word  ?  " 

"Yea,  forsooth,"  said  the  knight,  "while  I 
abide  in  your  castle  I  am  bound  to  do  your 
behest." 

"  Ye  have  traveled  far,"  said  the  host,  "  and 
since  ye  have  been  with  me  ye  are  not  re- 
freshed by  rest  and  sleep.  Ye  shall  therefore 
abide  in  your  chamber  these  three  days,  and 
go  to  meat  with  my  wife,  and  she  shall  sit 
with  you  and  care  for  you ;  and  I  shall  arise 
early  and  go  a-hunting." 

To  this  Sir  Gawain  agreed  full  courteously. 

"  But  listen,  Sir  Knight,"  quoth  the  lord, 
"  we  will  make  a  covenant.  Whatsoever  I  win 
in  the  wood  shall  be  yours,  and  whatever  ye 
shall  achieve,  that  shall  ye  give  to  me.  Let 
us  swear  to  make  this  exchange,  whether  it  be 
for  better  or  for  worse  for  each  one  of  us." 

"  I  grant  you  your  will,"  quoth  Gawain. 
"  Be  it  as  you  like." 

And  so  it  befell  three  days.  Each  morning 
the  lord  rose  early  and  went  to  the  hunting, 


64  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

and  each  morning  the  lady  of  the  castle  came 
to  Gawain  and  entertained  him.  Ever  the  lady 
made  as  though  she  loved  him,  and  ever  he 
turned  her  speech  aside,  for  he  was  a  cour- 
teous knight  and  true.  On  the  first  day  ere 
she  went  from  him  she  kissed  Gawain  full 
courteously.  When  the  lord  returned  at  even 
and  showed  Gawain  the  spoil  of  that  day's 
hunting,  and  gave  it  to  him,  he  asked  what 
the  knight  would  give  in  return,  as  the  cove- 
nant went. 

With  that  Gawain  clasped  his  hands  about 
the  lord's  neck  and  kissed  him  full  courteously, 
and  said,  "Take  here  my  spoils ;  no  more  have 

15) 
won. 

And  the  lord  laughed  merrily  and  said, 
"T  is  good ;   I  thank  thee  therefor." 

Yet  another  day  my  lord  went  a-hunting 
and  Sir  Gawain  rested  at  home.  And  this 
day  the  lord  brought  home  a  huge  wild  boar 
that  he  had  taken.  So  mighty  a  beast  had 
Gawain  never  seen.  And  this  night  Gawain 
gave  the  lord  two  kisses  in  token  of  those 
that  his  lady  had  given  to  him.    And  once 


GAWAIN'S  TESTING  65 

more  they  jested  together,  but  the  knight 
begged  leave  to  start  on  his  journey,  for  the 
time  was  near  when  he  must  come  to  the 
Green  Chapel. 

"  Nay,  nay,"  said  his  host.  "  As  I  am  a  true 
knight,  ye  shall  come  there  on  New  Year's 
Day.  Twice  have  I  tried  you  and  found  you 
true,  but  the  morrow  shall  be  the  third  day 
and  the  best." 

On  the  third  day  the  lady  would  bid  Gawain 
farewell,  and  she  entreated  him  that  he  take 
with  him  to  the  court  of  Arthur  some  token 
of  their  friendship.  First  she  begged  him  to 
give  her  his  glove  or  some  slight  token,  and 
he  would  not,  for  it  accorded  not  with  his 
honor  to  give  gifts  when  he  was  on  so  danger- 
ous a  quest.  Then  she  offered  him  a  ring,  but 
he  refused.it.  Then  she  was  sorely  vexed  and 
said,  "  If  my  ring  be  too  costly,  and  ye  will 
not  be  beholden  to  me,  take  of  your  courtesy 
this  girdle."  From  her  side  she  unloosed  a 
girdle  braided  of  green  silk. 

Gawain  refused  full  courteously  to  take  the 
girdle  or  any  gift  whatsoever,  be  it  never  so 


66  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

slight,  but  told  her  that  through  heat  or  cold 
he  would  be  her  servant,  for  he  was  dearly  be- 
holden to  her  for  her  kindness  and  hospitality. 

"  You  refuse  this  silk,"  said  the  lady,  w  and 
it  is  simple  in  itself;  but  if  any  knew  the 
virtue  that  is  knit  into  it,  he  might  value  it 
more  highly.  He  who  is  girded  with  this 
green  lace  cannot  be  wounded  nor  slain  by 
any  might  or  magic  on  earth." 

Then  Gawain  bethought  him  of  his  adven- 
ture in  the  Green  Chapel,  when  he  must  un- 
armed receive  a  deadly  blow.  Could  he  so 
order  it  that  he  come  forth  unslain,  that  were 
worth  the  trying  by  any  craft.  She  pressed 
the  girdle  upon  him  yet  once  more,  and  he 
took  it,  and  agreed  at  her  request  that  no  man 
should  know  of  it. 

That  night  Gawain  kept  not  all  of  his  cove- 
nant, for  he  kissed  the  lord  as  was  his  wont, 
but  he  said  naught  of  the  girdle.  Ere  they 
slept  he  took  leave  of  them  all  and  thanked 
them  for  their  courtesy,  and  each  found  it  as 
hard  to  part  from  that  knight  as  if  he  had 
dwelt  with  them  ever. 


GAWAIN'S  QUEST  67 

IV 

What  happened  at  the  Green  Chapel 

On  New  Year's  morn,  ere  it  was  yet  light, 
Sir  Gawain  arose  and  armed  himself,  and  he 
forgot  not  the  girdle,  the  lady's  gift,  but 
wrapped  it  around  him  twice. 

With  that  Sir  Gawain  set  forth  with  the 
servant  who  should  show  him  the  way.  They 
climbed  over  high  hills  and  rode  along  steep 
and  dangerous  paths  until  it  was  sunrise. 
Then  the  man  who  rode  beside  him  drew 
rein  and  said :  "  I  have  brought  you  hither, 
and  now  ye  are  not  far  from  the  place  ye  seek. 
But  I  tell  you,  since  I  love  you  well,  the  place 
whither  you  go  is  accounted  full  perilous, 
and  he  who  liveth  there  is  the  worst  man 
upon  earth.  None  enters  the  Green  Chapel 
that  he  does  not  kill  him,  and  never  does 
he  show  mercy.  Therefore,  good  Sir  Gawain, 
let  him  alone  and  go  by  some  other  path, 
and  I  will  hie  me  home  again.  By  God  and 
all  the  saints  I  swear  I  will  keep  counsel 
faithfully,  and  never  let  it  be  told  that  ye  fled." 


68  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

Gawain  thanked  him,  but  would  hear  no 
more  of  such  words,  and  the  man  bade  him 
farewell  sadly,  for  he  would  go  no  farther 
into  the  Green  Knight's  lands  for  all  the 
gold  upon  earth. 

Gawain  spurred  his  horse  and  rode  on  until 
he  came  into  a  dale.  No  chapel  could  he  see, 
but  rough,  overhanging  crags,  and  high,  deso- 
late banks.  It  was  an  ill-looking  place.  He 
dismounted  and  walked  about  to  see  if  he 
might  find  a  chapel,  and  he  found  none.  But 
he  came  to  a  hollow  in  the  hill,  —  whether  it 
was  a  cave  or  a  crevice  he  knew  not. 

"  Verily,"  quoth  Gawain,  "  can  this  be  the 
Green  Chapel?  In  faith  it  is  an  ugly  place, 
and  well  suited  to  witchcraft  and  magic." 

As  he  roamed  about  he  heard  a  frightful 
noise.  It  was  as  if  some  one  were  grinding 
on  a  grindstone.  "  I  trow,"  quoth  Gawain, 
M  that  is  the  knight,  preparing  his  gear  for 
me."  And  he  called  loudly :  "  Who  waiteth 
here  to  give  me  tryst.  Now  is  Gawain  here. 
If  any  man  willeth  aught  of  him,  let  him 
come  hither  quickly,  now  or  never." 


THE  MEETING 


69 


"  Stay,"  quoth  the  other,  "  and  ye  shall  have 
quickly  what  I  promised  you." 

The  Green  Knight  leaped  down  from  a 
crag,  bearing  in  his  hand  a  mighty  ax.  It  was 
that  he  was  sharpening  on  the  grindstone. 


"  Welcome,  Sir  Gawain,"  he  cried.  "  Thou 
hast  timed  thy  coming  as  befitteth  a  true 
knight.  Have  off  thy  helm  now,  and  take  thy 
pay.  Make  no  more  talking  over  it  than  I 
did  with  thee." 

"  By  God,"  quoth  Gawain,  "  I  shall  make  no 
complaint  over  what  may  befall." 


JO  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

So  Gawain  bared  his  neck,  and  the  Green 
Knight  made  ready.  With  all  his  force  he 
raised  his  grim  weapon  aloft  with  a  feint  of 
striking  the  knight  dead.  Had  the  ax  fallen 
straight  it  would  have  slain  him.  But  as  it 
came  gliding  down,  Gawain  shrank  a  little 
with  his  shoulders.  The  other  stopped  the 
blade  in  its  course,  and  reproved  him,  saying : 
"  Thou  art  not  Gawain,  who  is  held  so  valiant, 
for  thou  shrinkest  for  fear  before  thou  feelest 
hurt.  Such  cowardice  heard  I  of  him !  My 
head  fell  to  my  feet,  yet   I  flinched  not." 

M  I  shrank  once,"  said  Gawain,  M  yet  will  I 
no  more,  though  if  my  head  fall  on  the  stones 
I  cannot  replace  it." 

"  Have  at  thee,  then,"  said  the  other,  and 
heaved  aloft  his  sword  and  struck  at  him 
fiercely;  but  he  stopped  the  ax  once  more 
before  it  might  strike  Gawain. 

Gawain  abode  the  stroke  and  flinched  in 
no  limb,  but  stood  as  still  as  a  stone. 

Then  the  man  in  green  spake  gayly,  "Now 
thou  that  hast  thy  heart  again,  it  behooves 
me  to  smite  thee." 


THE  OUTCOME  7 1 

M  Thou  dost  threaten  too  long,"  said  Gawain 
angrily.  "  Methinks  thy  heart  misgives  thee." 

"  Forsooth,"  quoth  the  other,  "  thou  shalt 
wait  the  end  of  thine  errand  no  longer." 

Then  he  made  as  if  to  give  a  mighty  blow, 
and  let  the  ax  fall  lightly  on  the  bare  neck ; 
yet  it  did  no  more  than  to  sever  the  skin  on 
one  side,  so  that  the  blood  ran  over  Gawain's 
shoulder  to  the  ground.  When  the  knight 
saw  the  blood  on  the  snow  he  leaped  swiftly 
and  put  on  his  shield,  and  drew  his  sharp 
sword,  and  spoke  boldly,  "  Stop,  Knight,  bid 
me  take  no  more  blows,  or  I  will  requite  thee 
with  a  like  blow,  for  every  one  thou  smitest." 

Then  the  Green  Knight  rested  on  his  ax, 
and  looked  at  Gawain,  and  spoke  merrily  in 
a  loud  voice :  "  Be  not  so  fierce,  bold  sir.  No 
man  hath  done  thee  wrong.  Three  strokes 
have  I  given  thee,  as  befitted  our  covenant. 
Once  for  the  first  night,  and  this  time  I  hurt 
thee  not,  for  thou  didst  keep  our  word. 
Again  for  the  second  day,  when  as  a  true 
man  thou  didst  make  return,  and  this  time  I 
made  a  feint  to  hit  thee  and  hurt  thee  not. 


72  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

But  the  third  time  thou  didst  fail,  and  there- 
fore didst  thou  have  this  blow,  for  't  is  my 
girdle  that  thou  wearest,  and  mine  own  wife 
wrought  it.  Well  do  I  know  her  ways,  for  I 
sent  her  to  tempt  thee  and  try  thee ;  and  in 
sooth  I  think  thee  the  most  faultless  knight 
that  ever  trode  the  earth.  As  a  pearl  is  of 
more  worth  than  white  peas,  so  is  Gawain  by 
other  knights.  But  thou  didst  lack  a  little, 
Sir  Knight ;  yet  that  was  for  no  evil  work, 
but  because  thou  lovedst  thy  life ;  therefore 
I  blame  thee  less." 

The  other  stood  for  a  great  while,  sorely 
angered  with  himself.  The  blood  flew  to  his 
face  and  he  shrank  for  shame  as  the  Green 
Knight  talked.  The  first  words  that  he  spake 
were,  "  Cursed  be  cowardice,  for  therein  lie 
villainy  and  vice." 

And  he  unloosed  the  girdle  and  gave  it  to 
the  knight,  saying,  "  I  was  faulty  and  false, 
and  have  been  afraid.  I  avow  to  thee  that  I 
have  done  ill ;  now  do  thy  will." 

But  the  other  laughed  and  said  gayly: 
"  Thou  hast  confessed  clean  and  hast  borne 


THE  GREEN  GIRDLE  73 

the  weight  of  my  ax  as  penance.  I  hold  thee 
as  if  thou  hadst  never  been  guilty.  And  this 
girdle  I  give  thee  to  keep  as  a  token  of  the 
adventure  of  the  Green  Chapel.  Now  shalt 
thou  come  again  to  my  castle  and  pass  the 
rest  of  the  feast  in  gladness." 

"  Nay,"  quoth  Gawain,  "  I  thank  thee  for 
thy  courtesy ;  commend  me  to  that  courteous 
lady,  thy  fair  wife ;  but  I  cannot  return.  As 
for  the  girdle,  I  will  take  it  with  good  will, 
not  for  the  silk  or  the  woven  gold,  but  in 
token  of  my  fault.  I  shall  look  upon  it  when 
I  ride  in  renown,  and  remind  myself  of  my 
frailty." 

So  they  bade  each  other  farewell,  and 
Gawain  rode  swiftly  to  the  king's  hall,  but 
about  his  side  and  knotted  beneath  his  left 
arm  he  bare  the  girdle  of  green  silk  woven 
with  gold. 

Joy  awakened  in  the  dwelling  of  King 
Arthur  when  that  knight  came  to  court.  The 
king  kissed  him,  and  the  queen,  and  many  of 
the  brave  knights.  They  asked  him  how  he 
fared,  and  he  told  them  all  that  had  happened 


74  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

to  him.  Last  of  all  he  showed  them  the  girdle, 
and  the  blood  flew  to  his  face  for  shame  as  he 
told  the  tale. 

"  Lo,  here,  my  lord,"  he  said,  and  he  handed 
Arthur  the  girdle,  "  is  the  bond  of  my  blame, 
the  token  of  my  cowardice.  And  I  must  needs 
v/ear  it  as  long  as  I  live,  for  none  may  hide 
his  harm,  but  undone  it  may  not  be." 

Then  the  king  comforted  the  knight,  and 
all  the  court,  both  the  lords  and  ladies  and 
every  knight  of  the  Round  Table,  agreed  with 
one  accord  that  every  one  should  wear  a 
bright  green  girdle  for  the  sake  of  Gawain. 
To  this  was  agreed  all  the  honor  of  the  Round 
Table,  so  that  he  who  wore  the  green  girdle 
should  henceforth  be  honored  the  more. 

Thus  it  is  told  in  the  book  of  the  adven- 
tures of  King  Arthur's  court. 


THE  PASSING  OF  ARTHUR 

"  And  Arthur  and  his  knighthood  for  a  space 
Were  all  one  will,  and  thro'  that  strength  the  King 
Drew  in  the  petty  princedoms  under  him, 
Fought,  and  in  twelve  great  battles  overcame 
The  heathen  hordes,  and  made  a  realm  and  reign'd." 

Many  brave  knights  came  into  King 
Arthur's  fellowship,  and  they  wrought  to- 
gether and  conquered  all  the  land  and  did 
many  good  deeds.  Courtesy  and  justice  and 
honor  flourished  in  those  days.  But  there 
came  a  time  when  the  goodly  fellowship  was 
scattered.  While  Arthur  was  absent  from  his 
court  there  appeared  to  the  knights  as  they 
sat  in  the  castle  hall  a  strange  vision  of  the 
Holy  Grail,  which  was  a  sacred  vessel  that 
none  but  the  purest  might  see.  When  the 
vision  was  past  the  knights  had  sworn  with 
binding  vows  that  they  would  follow  the 
quest  for  that  Holy  Grail  until  they  had 
looked  upon  it,  for  it  had  seemed  to  them  to 

75 


76  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

be  veiled  in  a  cloud  and  they  would  see  it 
plainly.  One  by  one  they  took  the  vow,  Per- 
ceval and  Gawain  and  Lancelot,  and  Galahad, 
that  pure  knight. 

When  King  Arthur  returned  to  the  hall 
he  was  sorely  grieved  and  said :  "  Woe  is 
me,  my  knights !  Had  I  been  here,  ye  had 
not  sworn  that  vow." 

But  Perceval  answered  him  and  said,  "  My 
king,  hadst  thou  been  here,  thou  wouldst 
have  sworn  thyself." 

Then  the  king  spoke  to  them  sadly  and 
said:  "Nay,  ye  are  not  all  Galahads,  or  even 
Perceval s,  to  have  these  holy  visions  and  fol- 
low sacred  quests.  Ye  are  men  with  strength 
and  will  to  right  wrongs  and  succor  those  in 
need.  Go,  for  your  vows  are  made,  but  think 
how  often  in  this  hall,  whither  flock  the  needy 
in  all  my  realm,  the  chance  of  noble  deeds 
will  come  and  go  unchallenged,  while  your 
places  are  vacant  at  my  side." 

So  the  king  spoke,  and  so  it  befell ;  for 
while  the  knights  of  the  Round  Table  were 
gone   on   that   holy  quest,  —  and   many  saw 


THE  PASSING  OF  ARTHUR  77 

wondrous  sights  and  gained  for  themselves 
great  holiness  thereby,  —  there  rose  up  ene- 
mies to  Arthur  in  the  land,  and  they  plotted 
against  him  to  drive  him  from  his  throne. 
And  Arthur  gathered  all  his  forces  and  went 
forth  to  do  battle  with  his  foes ;  and  there  in 
that  battle  he  was  sore  wounded,  so  that  he 
knew  that  he  must  die,  and  only  the  bold 
Sir  Bedivere  was  with  him.  And  Arthur 
bade  him  help  him  to  the  water  side,  and 
there  before  them  stood  a  barge  whereon 
were  three  fair  queens. 

And  Arthur  said,  "  Place  me  in  the  barge"; 
and  they  laid  him  gently  on  the  deck,  and 
the  queens  cared  for  him. 

Then  Sir  Bedivere  cried  out,  saying,  "  Ah, 
my  lord  Arthur,  what  shall  become  of  me, 
now  that  you  go  from  me,  and  leave  me 
here  alone  ? " 

M  Comfort  thyself,"  said  the  king,  "  and  do 
as  well  as  thou  mayest,  for  I  go  to  the  vale 
of  Avilion  to  heal  me  of  my  grievous  wound." 

So  the  barge  passed  slowly  away  from  the 
bank  and  up  the  river,  and  Arthur  was  seen 


j8  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

no  more  by  mortal  men.  But  some  there  are 
who  say  that  he  is  not  dead,  but  will  come 
again  when  all  the  world  is  ruled  by  chivalry, 
for  though  King  Arthur  and  his  noble  knights 
passed  from  the  earth,  yet  the  spirit  of  their 
life  and  deeds  did  linger  many  hundred  years, 
and  many  followed  in  their  way,  and  do  still 
follow  even  unto  the  present  time.  And  ever 
when  men  speak  of  knightly  deeds,  Arthur 
is  held  in  honor  and  loving  remembrance,  for 
he  was  the 

"  first  of  all  the  kings  who  drew 
The  knighthood-errant  of  that  realm  and  all 
The  realms  together  under  him,  their  Head, 
In  that  fair  Order  of  the  Table  Round, 
A  glorious  company,  the  flower  of  men, 
To  serve  as  model  for  the  mighty  world, 
And  be  the  fair  beginning  of  a  time." 


ROLAND,  A    KNIGHT   OF    FRANCE 

I 

Of  the  childhood  of  Roland,  and  of  his  meeting 
with  Charlemagne 

In  the  days  of  old,  when  every  morning 
brought  adventure  and  every  noonday  the 
hope  of  winning  knightly  fame,  there  ruled 
in  Europe  a  mighty  Christian  emperor  called 
Charles.  At  first  he  had  been  king  of  only 
the  realm  of  France,  but  as  the  years  went 
by  he  had  so  extended  his  power  that  on 
Christmas  Day,  in  the  year  800,  he  was 
crowned  at  Rome  emperor  of  all  the  king- 
doms of  Europe  save  those  that  were  held 
by  the  northern  barbarians  or  the  heathen 
peoples  from  the  East.  So  well  and  wisely 
did  this  Emperor  Charles  rule  his  mighty 
realm,  that  before  many  years  were  gone 
men  spoke  of  him  and  wrote  of  him  always 
as  the  great  Charles,  and  they  said  it  so  often 

79 


80  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

that  it  became  part  of  his  name,  and  every- 
where and  for  all  time  he  came  to  be  known 
as  Charlemagne,  which  is  to  say  Charles  the 
Great. 

It  is  of  an  adventure  that  came  to  Charle- 
magne when  he  was  journeying  from  France 
to  Italy  on  his  way  to  be  made  emperor,  that 
I  would  tell  you.  All  along  the  route  which 
he  was  to  take,  the  report  had  gone  out  that 
the  mighty  Charlemagne  was  coming,  and 
crowds  had  flocked  to  the  roadside  to  see 
the  famous  king  go  by  with  his  escort  of 
dukes  and  lords  and  barons  and  earls,  who 
were  reckoned  the  most  valiant  company  of 
knights  in  Christendom. 

Of  all  those  who  awaited  the  coming  of 
the  king,  none  were  more  eager  than  two 
half-grown  lads  who  stood  on  a  hilltop  near 
Sutri  in  northern  Italy  and  watched  the  long 
file  of  heralds  and  soldiers  in  armor,  who 
made  up  the  advance  guard  of  the  army, 
march  up  the  winding  road  that  led  to  the 
little  village.  They  were  a  strange  couple, 
these  two,  the  one  dark-haired  and  graceful 


ROLAND  AND   OLIVER 


8l 


in  the  velvet  suit  which  he  had  donned  for 
this  feast  day,  and  which  set  off  his  slender 
figure  well,  the  other  strong  and  handsome 
but  clad  in  ragged  garments,  and  with  un- 
kempt flaxen  locks  streaming   in  the  wind. 


Yet  the  rough  clothes  of  Roland,  the  village 
boy,  could  no  more  hide  an  air  of  distinction 
with  which  he  carried  himself  than  could  the 
rich  garments  of  Oliver,  the  governor's  son, 
conceal  the  lithe  strength  of  his  young  body. 


82  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

The  villagers  never  ceased  to  wonder  that 
the  governor  allowed  his  son  to  be  seen  with 
Roland,  but  it  had  come  about  in  this  wise: 
Roland  was  the  strongest  of  the  village  boys, 
and  they  made  him  their  leader  and  cham- 
pion, who  should  settle  the  unending  feud 
which  existed  between  them  and  the  boys 
of  high  station,  of  whom  Oliver  was  the 
leader.  In  a  wrestling  match  the  two  had 
fought  it  out,  and  though  the  contest  was 
long  and  close,  Roland  had  finally  thrown 
his  opponent.  But  Oliver,  being  a  courteous 
lad  as  well  as  strong,  rose  to  his  feet  and 
declared  that  Roland  had  proved  himself 
the  better,  and  that  so  much  did  he  admire 
his  valor,  that  he  would  fain  be  friends  with 
him.  And  there  began  a  friendship  which 
was  to  last  as  long  as  Roland  and  Oliver 
should  live,  and  was  to  be  sung  in  many 
languages  and  told  by  many  chroniclers. 

Thus  it  came  about  that  Roland  and 
Oliver  watched  from  a  hilltop  in  Sutri  the 
coming  of  the  army,  and  shouted  themselves 
hoarse  when  the  king  himself  came  in  sight, 


THE  COMING  OF  CHARLEMAGNE        83 

mounted  on  a  prancing  charger  and  sur- 
rounded by  the  twelve  peers  who  were  the 
best  of  all  his  knights  and  whose  fame  had 
spread  throughout  all  Christendom.  But  after 
the  king  had  passed,  Oliver  must  needs  hasten 
to  the  village  green,  where  a  feast  had  been 
set  for  the  king,  and  the  governor's  son  must 
serve  as  one  of  the  pages  who  passed  the 
heaping  platters  and  bore  the  silver  tankards 
of  rich  red  wine.  Roland  turned  his  face  to  go 
to  the  cave  where  he  and  his  widowed  mother 
dwelt  in  sad  poverty  outside  the  village  walls, 
but  as  he  went  he  came  upon  a  line  of  the 
emperor's  servants  bearing  trays  of  dainty 
viands  to  the  table.  For  many  days  Roland 
and  his  mother  had  been  living  on  crusts 
of  bread  and  goat's  milk,  for  the  winter  was 
hard  and  food  scarce,  and  the  sight  of  meat 
drove  from  the  boy's  mind  all  remembrance  of 
aught  but  his  hunger  and  his  mother's  suffer- 
ings. He  rushed  upon  the  men,  and  snatching 
the  plates  from  their  hands,  made  away  with 
them  with  such  speed  that  before  they  real- 
ized what  had  happened  he  was  out  of  sight. 


84  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

When  the  emperor  was  told  of  the  boy's 
deed,  he  sat  silent,  buried  in  thought,  and  all 
at  the  table  waited,  fearing  lest  the  lad  be 
severely  punished  for  his  bold  act ;  but  Char- 
lemagne was  thinking  of  a  dream  which  had 
troubled  him  for  three  nights.  He  had  seen 
the  fierce,  starving  boy  seizing  the  food,  and 
had  been  warned  to  follow  him.  He  dis- 
patched three  knights  to  find  the  boy  and 
bring  him  into  his  presence.  They  had  little 
difficulty  in  finding  him,  for  every  one  in  the 
village  knew  Roland ;  but  when  they  came  to 
the  cave  he  met  them,  and  told  them  fiercely 
that  none  should  enter  the  cave,  uninvited,  to 
harm  his  mother,  but  should  receive  first  a 
blow  from  his  cudgel.  His  mother  calmed 
the  angry  boy  and  invited  the  messengers 
to  enter. 

That  was  a  time  of  surprise  for  young 
Roland,  for  when  the  knights  saw  the  boy's 
mother,  they  knew  her  to  be  no  peasant 
woman  but  a  lady  of  high  rank,  and  they 
bowed  low  before  her,  and  told  her  that  King 
Charles,  who  was  to  be  crowned  emperor  at 


THE  PARENTAGE  OF  ROLAND  85 

Rome,  desired  the  presence  of  her  son.  And 
Roland's  mother  wept  when  she  heard  the 
name  of  Charles,  and  told  the  knights  that 
she  was  his  own  sister,  the  lady  Bertha,  who 
had  fled  from  the  court  many  years  before 
because  her  royal  brother  would  not  give  her 
leave  to  marry  a  poor  but  noble  knight,  by 
the  name  of  Milone.  They  had  escaped  to- 
gether to  Italy,  and  had  hidden  in  this  cave 
to  wait  till  the  spies  of  Charlemagne  should 
have  returned  from  searching  for  them.  There 
Roland  had  been  born,  and  from  there  Milone 
had  departed  when  the  heathen  Saracens 
had  come  to  the  very  gates  of  Rome  to  take 
her,  and  every  knight  in  Christendom  had 
been  summoned  to  defend  the  faith  and  save 
the  city.  In  that  battle  he  had  been  killed, 
and  for  all  the  years  of  Roland's  childhood 
his  mother  had  lived  on  in  the  cave,  subsist- 
ing as  best  she  might.  Then  the  knights 
knelt  before  the  sister  of  Charlemagne  and 
gave  her  homage,  and  entreated  her  that  she 
let  them  bring  the  boy  into  the  royal  pres- 
ence and  sue  for  pardon  for  them  both.    But 


86  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

Roland  sat  as  in  a  dream  as  he  heard  of  his 
royal  lineage,  and  marveled  that  the  mighty 
king,  whom  he  had  looked  upon  that  very 
morning,  was  his  uncle. 

The  knights  led  Roland  into  the  king's 
presence,  and  the  boy  stood  proudly  before 
Charlemagne,  and  bore  himself  so  well  that 
all  who  looked  on  wTondered  at  the  appear- 
ance of  this  peasant  boy.  When  he  heard 
the  story  of  the  messengers,  Charlemagne's 
heart  yearned  over  the  boy,  who  was  his  only 
sister's  son,  and  he  embraced  him  and  wel- 
comed him  to  his  court.  An  escort  of  noble 
knights  brought  the  Lady  Bertha  to  the 
king,  and  from  that  time  forth  Roland  and 
his  mother  belonged  to  the  king's  house- 
hold. They  journeyed  with  him  to  Rome, 
and  every  day  Charlemagne  rejoiced  in  the 
proud  bearing  of  the  lad,  and  in  his  strength 
and  courage.  When  they  returned  to  France, 
Roland  was  given  over  to  the  care  of  Duke 
Namo,  who  should  take  the  lad  and  train  him 
as  a  page  in  his  household. 


ROLAND  AS  PAGE  8 J 

II 

Of  Roland  as  page,  esquire,  and  knight 

As  a  page  in  the  household  of  Duke  Namo, 
Roland  began  his  knightly  education  in  com- 
pany with  a  group  of  noble  youth  who  had 
come  there  for  that  purpose.  It  was  hard  for 
the  freedom-loving  boy,  who  had  been  under 
no  tutelage  but  that  of  his  gentle  mother,  to 
adapt  himself  to  the  castle  life,  but  he  set 
himself  sternly  to  learn  those  first  lessons  of 
the  page,  "  Obedience  and  Service,"  and  won 
golden  opinions  from  the  lord  and  lady  of  the 
castle  ;  for  of  all  the  pages  none  was  so  eager  to 
learn,  and  none  so  ready  to  run  with  messages 
or  wait  upon  the  duke's  guests,  and  none  so 
quick  to  serve  at  table.  The  ladies  of  the  court 
taught  him  courtesy,  and  he  responded  with 
gallant  service  and  pretty  speeches,  until  the 
duke  reported  to  his  uncle,  the  emperor,  that 
the  lad  was  the  favorite  of  all  the  household, 
as  well  as  his  most  promising  pupil. 

One  day  Roland  was  wild  with  delight,  for 
his  master  had  told  him  that  he  was  to  be 


88  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

made  an  esquire  (for  he  was  already  four- 
teen years  old).  The  lady  Bertha  might  well 
be  proud  of  the  tall,  flaxen-haired  lad  who 
stepped  from  the  ranks  of  the  pages  when 
his  name  was  called  and  exchanged  the  short 
dagger  of  the  page  for  the  sword  of  the  es- 
quire. Henceforth  he  was  no  longer  a  child, 
but  a  youth,  whose  duties  would  all  be  turned 
toward  the  profession  of  knighthood  for  which 
he  was  being  trained.  Once  more  he  was 
assigned  to  the  care  of  Duke  Namo,  and 
with  him  was  placed  a  boy  a  few  years  older 
than  he,  who  was  his  favorite  of  all  the  pages 
with  whom  he  had  been  associated.  This 
was  Ogier  the  Dane,  son  and  heir  of  the 
king  of  Denmark,  who  had  been  delivered 
to  Charlemagne  by  his  father  as  a  pledge 
that  Denmark  would  continue  to  render 
homage  to  him  as  emperor.  Together  the 
boys  learned  the  duties  of  esquireship,  caring 
for  the  armor  of  their  lord,  equipping  his 
horse  for  him  when  he  would  go  abroad,  and 
attending  him  on  every  journey;  together 
they  were  trained  in  the  feats  of  knighthood, 


ROLAND  AS  ESQUIRE  89 

and  together  they  listened  to  the  tales  of 
Bernardo  the  old  armorer,  who  told  of  battles 
and  tourneys  and  deeds  of  valor.  And  the 
boys  lamented  because  the  times  were  peace- 
ful, but  the  old  man  said,  "  Never  fear,  young 
sirs ;  your  time  will  come." 

One  day  there  came  from  Charlemagne  a 
summons  to  arms.  The  Saracens  from  the 
East  had  landed  in  Italy,  and  were  marching 
on  Rome.  Duke  Namo  waited  scarcely  an 
hour  before  he  set  out  for  the  place  of  meet- 
ing, and  Roland  and  Ogier  went  in  his  train. 

Of  that  swift  march  and  of  the  mighty 
army  I  will  not  speak.  In  one  short  week 
the  mountains  were  crossed,  and  Charlemagne 
was  face  to  face  with  his  heathen  foe. 

The  advance  guard  of  the  army  was  given 
to  Duke  Namo  to  command,  and  behind  him, 
on  a  rise  of  ground  where  they  could  watch 
the  battle,  were  his  esquires.  Should  the  duke 
become  unhorsed,  or  should  he  lose  any  of  his 
weapons,  it  was  for  them  to  rush  to  his  as- 
sistance. In  the  forefront  of  the  army  rode 
Charlemagne,   and    at    his    right    hand   rode 


90  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

Alory,  a  knight  of  Lombardy,  to  whom  the 
emperor  had  given  the  Oriflamme,  or  royal 
standard,  to  bear,  for  the  battle  was  taking 
place  in  the  province  of  Lombardy.  This  was 
the  greatest  honor  knight  could  have,  but 
Alory  proved  himself  sadly  unworthy  of  it. 

When  the  combat  was  at  its  height,  one 
division  of  the  army  became  separated  from 
the  rest,  so.  that  Charlemagne  was  in  danger 
and  the  outcome  of  the  fight  in  that  place 
was  uncertain.  All  of  a  sudden  the  esquires 
saw  Alory  lower  his  banner  and  turn  his 
horse  in  flight,  leaving  Charlemagne  and  a 
few  brave  knights  alone  in  the  midst  of 
a  band  of  Saracens. 

Right  into  the  arms  of  the  esquires  Alory 
rode,  fleeing  blindly  and  caring  not  where 
he  went  if  only  he  could  escape  from  the 
battle.  But  Ogier  had  seen  his  cowardly  act, 
and  he  seized  his  bridle  and  stopped  him, 
crying :  "  Stop,  Alory  !  Are  you  conquered  ? 
Where  is  the  king  ?    How  have  ye  left  him  ?  *' 

"  The  king  is  taken.  The  French  are  cut 
off  and  killed,"  wailed  Alory  in  terror. 


THE  BATTLE  9 1 

"  You  lie.  Rather  have  you  failed  him  in 
his  hour  of  peril,"  cried  Ogier,  and  he  tore 
off  Alory's  armor,  felling  him  with  a  blow 
of  his  fist,  and  put  it  on  with  all  speed, 
calling  to  his  fellow  esquires  to  follow  his 
example. 

"  Shame  be  on  any,  Ogier,  who  shall  fail 
thee ! "  they  cried,  and  they  fell  upon  the 
retreating  Lombards  who  had  followed  Alory, 
and  armed  themselves  from  their  weapons  as 
best  they  might.  He  who  could  not  find  a 
lance  broke  a  staff  of  apple  tree  or  ash.  Their 
linen  shirts  they  tore  for  pennons,  and  Ogier 
rode  at  the  head  in  ill-fitting  armor,  but  bear- 
ing the  royal  standard  with  its  golden  cords, 
and  next  to  him  rode  Roland. 

When  the  esquires  reached  the  place  where 
Charlemagne  had  been,  they  could  not  see 
him,  for  the  center  of  the  battle  had  changed 
and  the  emperor  had  been  driven  from  his 
stand  by  the  onrush  of  the  enemy.  When 
they  reached  him  he  was  in  the  midst  of 
the  Saracens,  who  had  come  upon  him  from 
behind,  and  he  and  his  trusty  band  of  knights 


92  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

were  in  grave  peril.  But  their  hearts  were 
glad  when  they  heard  the  cry  of  Ogier  and 
saw  the  Oriflamme  once  more.  When  the 
enemy  had  fallen  back  a  little,  Charlemagne 
found  a  moment  to  ride  to  his  standard 
bearer  and  say  to  him,  "  Brave  Alory,  I 
thought  thou  hadst  failed  me,  but  now  I 
see  that  it  is  to  thee   I  owe  my  safety ! " 

Ogier  made  no  reply,  —  indeed  there  was 
no  time,  —  but  plunged  once  more  into  the 
thick  of  battle,  and  ere  long  the  Saracens 
were  fleeing  in  every  direction  and  the 
heathen  horde  had  been  defeated. 

Then  the  Archbishop  Turpin  laid  aside 
his  armor,  and  standing  beside  the  emperor, 
gave  thanks  to  God  for  the  victory  he  had 
given  them.  When  he  had  finished,  Ogier 
came  in  his  heavy  armor  to  lay  the  Oriflamme 
at  the  feet  of  the  emperor,  and  behind  him 
walked  a  company  of  warriors  who  were 
burdened  by  their  ill-fitting  armor.  Ogier 
knelt  before  Charlemagne,  who  embraced 
him,  calling  him  Alory,  from  his  armor,  and 
thanked  him  for  his  aid   in  the  moment  of 


THE  ACCOLADE  93 

danger.  But  Roland,  his  nephew,  could  no 
longer  abide  this  error.  He  threw  off  his 
helmet  and  unfastened  that  of  Ogier,  and  all 
the  young  esquires  that  stood  with  them  did 
likewise. 

No  chronicler  has  ever  been  able  to  picture 
the  astonishment  and  joy  of  the  great  emperor 
as  he  looked  upon  these  youthful  warriors. 
There  on  the  battle  field  he  had  the  soldiers 
lay  a  rude  altar,  whereon  were  placed  two 
shining  swords.  The  archbishop  blessed  the 
weapons,  and  the  emperor  bade  Ogier  and 
Roland  kneel  before  him.  With  his  famous 
sword,  Joyeuse,  Charlemagne  dealt  them  each 
the  accolade,  which  is  to  say,  three  blows  on 
the  shoulder. 

"  The  king  he  lifted  his  famous  blade, 
A  blow  on  the  shoulder  of  each  he  laid, 
And  by  that  little  action  a  knight  he  is  made, 
Baptized  into  glorious  chivalry. 
1  Bear  thou  this  blow,'  said  the  king  to  the  knight, 
1  But  never  bear  blow  again  : 
For  thy  sword  is  to  keep  thine  honor  white, 
And  thine  honor  must  keep  thy  good  sword  bright, 
And  both  must  be  free  from  stain.' " 


So  the  twain  are  there  dubbed  knight, 
Courteous  and  brave  and  of  great  might. 


94 


THE  SWORD  AND  SPURS  95 

Then  Charlemagne  called:  "Rise,  Sir  Ogier; 
rise,  Sir  Roland,  henceforth  my  loyal  knights." 

With  his  own  hands  he  girt  on  their  swords. 
That  was  a  great  honor  for  these  knights. 

The  name  of  the  sword  of  Ogier  was  Cor- 
tana,  and  of  Roland,  Durindana.  In  a  dream 
Charlemagne  had  been  told  of  this  sword 
Durindana  which  should  come  to  him,  how  it 
had  once  belonged  to  Hector,  prince  of  Troy, 
and  had  been  carried  by  a  long  line  of  valiant 
heroes  since  that  day.  And  the  closing  words 
of  that  message  were :  "  This  sword  belongs 
only  to  a  right  valiant  captain.  See  that  it 
goes  to  him."  Now  the  emperor  deemed 
Roland  worthy  to  carry  it. 

Then  Duke  Namo  fastened  silver  spurs  on 
both  knights,  for  they  had  already  won  them 
by  their  service  on  their  first  battle  field. 

"  *  Take  thou  these  spurs,'  said  the  duke  to  the  knight, 
'  And  ever  keep  this  in  mind, 
That  as  thou  wouldst  have  thy  steed  mind  thee, 
That  he  prompt,  and  docile  and  obedient  be, 
So  let  thy  vows  thee  bind.' " 

So  were  Roland  and  Ogier  made  knights. 


96  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

III 

"A  Roland  for  an  Oliver" 

There  was  a  custom  .in  the  olden  days  that 
when  there  was  cause  to  war  between  two 
kingdoms  each  might  choose,  if  they  both  so 
willed,  a  champion  who  should  meet  in  single 
combat  the  knight  chosen  by  the  enemy. 
Thus  would  the  honor  of  both  parties  be  sat- 
isfied, and  long  and  bloody  war  be  averted. 

Such  a  combat  was  agreed  upon  to  settle 
the  dispute  which  had  arisen  between  Charle- 
magne and  one  of  his  Italian  vassals;  and 
Roland,  who  was  by  this  time  a  full-fledged 
warrior,  was  so  fortunate  as  to  be  chosen  for 
Charlemagne,  while  one  of  the  Italian  lord's 
grandsons  drew  the  lot  to  fight  for  his  prov- 
ince. The  meeting  place  was  to  be  an  island 
in  a  river  that  ran  between  Italy  and  France. 

When  the  appointed  day  came,  Roland 
was  escorted  by  the  knights  of  Charlemagne 
to  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  rowed  out 
to  the  island  amid  the  shouts  and  cheers 
of  the  throng  that  lined  the  shores.     From 


THE  CHAMPIONS  97 

the  other  side  of  the  stream  came  the  Italian 
champion,  and  there  on  that  island  they  met. 
When  those  two  knights  faced  each  other,  clad 
in  the  heavy  armor  that  covered  them  from 
head  to  foot,  the  crowds  that  lined  the  shores 
could  not  have  told,  save  for  the  color  of  the 
pennons  that  waved  from  their  lances,  which 
was  the  French  champion  and  which  the 
Italian,  so  nearly  matched  were  they  in  size. 

The  trumpet  sounded,  and  before  the  sound 
of  that  blast  had  died  away  the  champions 
had  dashed  forward  on  their  steeds,  with  lances 
in  position,  clashed  together  with  a  force  that 
shivered  both  lances  and  made  their  horses 
reel,  and  passed  each  other.  The  first  great 
test  of  knightly  combat  had  been  passed,  and 
neither  champion  had  been  unhorsed. 

Now  they  dismounted  and  drew  their 
swords.  For  two  long  hours  and  more  they 
fought,  and  neither  missed  a  stroke  nor  failed 
to  parry  a  thrust.  Those  who  watched  on 
the  shore  had  never  seen  such  swordplay, 
nor  two  champions  so  equally  matched.  One 
would  think  they  would  be  weary,  but  they 


98  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

leaped  to  their  blows  as  though  they  were 
fresh  to  the  combat.  While  they  marveled 
at  Roland's  skill,  the  men  of  France  trembled 
lest  some  blow  from  the  sword  of  this  stran- 
ger knight  should  throw  the  fair  pennon  of 
Charlemagne  in  the  dust.  And  the  Italians, 
as  they  cheered,  whispered  one  to  another  in 
fear  lest  their  hero  had  met  his  match. 

Suddenly  Roland  drove  forward  with  so 
mighty  a  stroke  that  he  buried  his  sword 
Durindana  in  the  shield  of  his  opponent.  It 
went  so  deep  that  he  could  not  withdraw  it. 
At  the  same  moment  his  antagonist  struck  so 
fiercely  against  Roland's  breastplate  that  his 
sword  snapped  off  at  the  hilt.  Thus  were 
both  warriors  left  weaponless. 

Without  a  pause  they  rushed  upon  each 
other,  each  striving  to  throw  the  other  to  the 
ground.  Long  they  struggled,  and  neither 
could  down  the  other.  Those  who  watched 
scarce  moved  or  breathed  as  they  saw  that 
combat.  Finally  each  snatched  at  the  other's 
helmet  to  tear  it  away.  Both  succeeded,  and 
the  two  champions  stood  bareheaded.    Then 


"A  ROLAND  FOR  AN  OLIVER"  99 

the  men  of  France  and  of  Italy  saw  a  sight 
that  they  could  scarce  credit.  Those  two 
knights,  who  had  fought  with  all  their  might 
for  two  long  hours  and  more,  rushed  into  each 
other's  arms  and  embraced.  The  watchers 
thought  it  was  some  new  and  deadly  move; 
but  no !  they  stood  off  and  gazed  into  each 
other's  eyes,  and  once  more  they  embraced. 

Then  the  knight  of  Italy  shouted  in  ringing 
tones,  "I  yield  me  to  Roland." 

And  Roland  called  even  more  loudly,  "  I 
am  conquered  by  Oliver." 

And  so  it  was !  The  stranger  knight  was 
Oliver,  the  friend  of  Roland's  boyhood,  from 
whom  he  had  been  separated  since  that  winter 
day  when  Charlemagne  had  passed  through 
the  little  Italian  village  and  found  there  his 
nephew.  Now  they  had  fought  with  one  an- 
other in  deadly  combat  for  nearly  three  hours. 

The  knights  of  France  and  Italy  came  with 
haste  to  see  wherefore  the  battle  had  ceased. 
Some  urged  that  it  was  the  duty  of  the  two 
champions  to  renew  their  strife  to  settle  their 
countries'  quarrel;  but  neither  would  hear  to  it. 


IOO        PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

"  Not  for  country,  nor  cause,  nor  king  will 
I  fight  the  friend  of  my  life,"  said  Roland,  and 
Oliver  was  with  him. 

A  truce  of  four  days  was  declared,  in  which 
Charlemagne  and  his  rebellious  lord  should 
confer  through  their  knights  and  see  whether 
other  champions  should  be  chosen;  but  in  that 
time,  by  the  efforts  of  Roland  and  Oliver,  the 
dispute  was  peaceably  settled.  The  two  friends 
refused  to  part,  and  Charlemagne  took  Oliver 
as  one  of  his  peers,  for  he  had  proved  himself 
worthy  of  the  highest  honors  of  knighthood. 
Henceforth  Roland  could  not  hold  his  proud 
place  as  the  best  of  Charlemagne's  knights, 
but  he  cared  not  for  that,  since  he  and  his 
beloved  Oliver  were  but  equally  matched,  and 
neither  could  do  better  than  the  other.  So 
well  matched  were  they  that  when  people 
of  the  court  would  tell  that  one  thing  was 
the  equal  of  another,  they  said:  "  They  are  the 
same.  It  matters  not  which  it  is.  'T  is  but  a 
Roland  for  an  Oliver."  And  it  is  from  those 
days  that  the  saying  has  come  down  to  us. 


A  STEED!    A  STEED! 

A  steed  !  a  steed  !  of  matchless  speed  ! 

A  sword  of  metal  keen ! 
All  else  to  noble  hearts  is  dross  — 

All  else  on  earth  is  mean. 
The  neighing  of  the  war-horse  proud, 

The  rolling  of  the  drum, 
The  clangor  of  the  trumpet  loud 

Be  sounds  from  heaven  that  come. 
And,  oh !  the  thundering  press  of  knights, 

When  as  their  war-cries  swell, 
May  tole  from  heaven  an  angel  bright, 

And  rouse  a  fiend  from  hell. 

Then  mount !  then  mount !  brave  gallants  all, 

And  don  your  helms  amain ; 
Death's  couriers,  Fame  and  Honour,  call 

Up  to  the  field  again ; 
No  shrewish  tear  shall  fill  our  eye 

When  the  sword  hilt's  in  our  hand; 


102         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

Heart-whole  we  '11  part  and  no  whit  sigh 

For  the  fairest  of  the  land. 
Let  piping  swain  and  craven  wight, 

Thus  weep  and  puling  aye ; 
Our  business  is  like  men  to  fight 

And  like  to  Heroes,  die ! 


THE  BATTLE  OF  RONCEVAL 

I 

Of  the  council  of  Charlemagne 

"  The  Emperor  sits  in  an  orchard  wide, 
Roland  and  Oliver  by  his  side ; 
With  them  many  a  gallant  lance, 
Full  fifteen  thousand  of  gentle  France. 
Upon  a  throne  of  beaten  gold 
The  lord  of  ample  France  behold ; 
White  his  hair  and  beard  were  seen, 
Fair  of  body,  and  proud  of  mien." 

It  was  the  custom  of  Charlemagne  to  take 
counsel  of  his  peers  and  knights  in  all  matters 
of  weight.  Seven  years  he  had  waged  war 
against  the  Saracens  in  Spain,  and  one  city 
after  another  had  fallen  before  him  until  only 
one  remained  unconquered,  the  stronghold 
of  Saragossa,  and  there  Marsilius,  the  Mos- 
lem king,  had  taken  refuge.  Now  messen- 
gers had  come  from  Marsilius,  bearing  olive 

103 


io4 


CHARLEMAGNE'S  COUNCIL  105 

branches  of  peace,  with  the  promise  that  if 
Charlemagne  and  his  army  would  withdraw 
from  Spain,  the  king  would  follow  him  to 
France  and  there  offer  to  him  his  fealty,  em- 
bracing Christianity  as  his  religion  from  that 
day.  King  Charlemagne  had  listened  to 
these  fair  promises  and  held  his  peace,  for 
he  was  never  hasty  of  speech,  and  the  next 
morning  he  had  called  a  council  of  his 
knights  in  the  orchard  to  consult  with  them 
in  this  matter.  He  told  them  of  the  proposal 
of  the  envoys,  and  of  the  rich  treasures  of 
gold  and  silver,  and  of  the  noble  hostages 
which  the  heathen  king  offered  as  token  that 
his  words  were  true. 

"  Yet,"  he  added,  as  he  ended  his  words, 
H  I  know  not  what  may  lie  in  his  heart." 

Scarcely  had  he  finished  when  Count 
Roland  came  forward  and  faced  his  uncle. 
His  eye  flashed  with  anger. 

w  Believe  not  this  Marsilius,"  he  cried. 
V  Full  seven  long  years  we  have  warred  in 
Spain,  and  he  hath  ever  been  a  traitor.  Dost 
thou  not  remember  the  time  when  he  sent 


106        PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

unto  thee  fifteen  of  his  heathen,  bearing 
olive  boughs  and  speaking  the  selfsame 
words  as  now?  Dost  thou  not  remember 
how  thou  didst  hearken  to  his  words  and 
send  two  of  thy  chiefest  knights  to  him,  and 
how  he  had  their  heads  struck  off?  War,  I 
say !  '  End  as  you  began.  Besiege  him  in 
Saragossa.    War,  I  say !  " 

The  Franks  were  silent  when  Roland 
had  finished  speaking,  and  the  emperor  an- 
swered him  not  a  word,  but  bent  his  head 
and  mused. 

Suddenly  Count  Ganelon  leaped  to  his  feet. 

"  Be  not  misled,  my  lord,  but  look  to  your 
own  good  ends,"  he  cried.  "  King  Marsilius 
assures  us  of  his  good  faith,  and  vows  to  be 
your  vassal  and  abide  by  the  Christian  law. 
Who  would  reject  a  treaty  like  this,  cares  not 
by  what  death  we  die.  Good  does  not  come 
from  counsel  of  pride ;  listen  to  the  wise,  and 
let  the  madmen  be  !  " 

Then  the  white-haired  Duke  Namo  arose ; 
there  was  no  better  vassal  in  all  the  emperor's 
court  than  he. 


THE  CHOOSING  OF  A  MESSENGER    107 

"  You  have  hearkened  unto  Ganelon,  and 
he  speaketh  well.  King  Marsilius  is  broken 
and  beaten  in  war.  You  have  captured  his 
castles  afar  and  near ;  you  have  broken  down 
his  walls,  burned  his  cities,  and  slain  his 
soldiers.  It  were  a  sin  to  molest  him  further. 
Receive  his  hostages  and  send  him  in  return 
one  of  your  Christian  knights.  We  have  been 
too  long  away  from  fair  France.  'T  is  time  this 
war  ended  and  we  returned  to  our  homes." 

"  The  duke  speaketh  well,"  the  Franks 
exclaimed.^ 

"  Who  then  were  the  best  to  undertake 
this  mission  ?  said  Charlemagne. 

"  I  pray  you  send  me,"  said  the  duke. 

"  Nay,"  answered  the  king,  "  thou  art  my 
wisest  counselor.  Thou  shalt  never  depart 
so  far  from  me." 

"  I,"  said  Roland,  "  will  go  right  gladly." 

"  Nay,"  said  Oliver,  "  not  so.  Thou  art  too 
fiery  of  temper  for  so  perilous  a  mission.  I 
will  go,  if  the  king  but  will." 

"  Be  silent,  both  of  you,"  spoke  Charlemagne 
sternly.    "  Neither  of  you  shall  go,  nor  any 


108         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

of  my  twelve  peers.  My  lords,"  he  continued, 
turning  to  the  men  of  the  council,  "  choose 
me  a  baron  who  shall  do  my  behest." 

"  Be  it,"  said  Roland,  "  my  stepsire  Ganelon. 
In  vain  will  ye  seek  for  a  meeter  man." 

"  Well  spoken  !  "  cried  the  Franks. 

And  the  emperor  said :  "  It  is  well.  Count 
Ganelon,  thou  hearest.  The  Franks  have 
chosen." 

"  This  is  Roland's  work,"  said  Ganelon,  and 
he  trembled  with  angry  passion  as  he  stood 
there.  "  For  this,  I  vow  I  will  love  him  no 
more.  Nor  will  I  love  Oliver,  for  he  is  his 
sworn  comrade.  Nor  will  I  love  the  peers 
who  so  cherish  and  honor  him.  I  fling  de- 
fiance at  them  all." 

M  Ganelon,"  said  the  emperor,  "  there  is  too 
much  anger  in  thy  words.  Since  I  command 
it,  thou  must  go." 

"  I  go,  my  lord,"  said  Ganelon,  but  as  he 
bent  forward  to  take  the  glove  which  was  the 
token  of  his  being  chosen,  his  anger  made 
him  careless,  and  it  fell  to  the  ground  before 
he  took  it. 


GANELON'S  MISSION  109 

"  God !  what  is  this  ? "  said  the  startled 
Franks  as  they  saw  it  fall.  "  Evil  will  come 
of  this  quest." 

"  My  lords,  ye  shall  hear  of  that  anon," 
said  Ganelon  in  a  storm  of  angry  passion. 
Then,  turning  to  the  emperor,  "  Sire,  let  me 
go ;  since  go  I  must,  why  should  I  delay  ? " 

"  Go,  then,  in  Christ's  name  and  mine," 
said  Charlemagne. 

So  Ganelon  left  the  peers  and  knights  of 
France  and  went  on  his  journey;  but  he 
carried  with  him  an  evil  heart  that  boded  ill 
for  France. 

II 

Of  Ganelon 's  treache7y 

To  tell  the  tale  of  Ganelon's  journey  to 
Saragossa  and  of  the  plot  that  he  plotted  by 
the  way,  —  that  were  too  long  a  tale.  The 
anger  in  his  heart  against  Roland  for  sending 
him  on  so  dangerous  a  mission,  from  which, 
in  spite  of  his  words  of  counsel  to  Charle- 
magne, he  scarce  believed  he  should  return 


HO        PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

alive,  did  so  rule  him  that  he  forgot  his 
knightliness  and  his  truth  and  even  his  honor, 
and  did  make  with  the  Saracens  a  bargain  of 
treachery  so  base  that  no  man  can  think  of  it 
without  a  shudder.  The  heathen  were  eager 
to  know  how  long  the  aged  Charlemagne 
could  live  and  what  would  become  of  his 
kingdom  when  he  died,  for  Roland  was  right 
and  there  was  no  good  faith  behind  the  fair 
promises  of  Marsilius.  And  Ganelon  told 
them  that  they  could  do  naught  while  Charle- 
magne lived,  but  that  Roland  was  the  real 
ruler  of  that  land.  He  it  was,  he  said,  who 
urged  the  emperor  on  to  his  mighty  deeds, 
and  he  it  was  to  whom  the  people  looked  to 
carry  on  Charlemagne's  mighty  empire. 

"  Whoso  bringeth  Roland  to  death,-'  he 
said,  "  will  take  from  Charlemagne  his  great- 
est strength.  His  marvelous  host  will  melt 
away  and  leave  this  mighty  land  in  peace." 

So  he  plotted  a  wicked  plot  with  the  heathen, 
that  when  Charlemagne  should  withdraw  his 
troops  from  Spain  Roland  should  have  charge 
of  the  rear  guard   of  the  army.     Then  the 


GANELON'S  TREACHERY  m 

Saracens  could  fall  upon  him  and  his  men 
when  the  rest  of  the  army  were  past,  and  kill 
them.  Marsilius  fell  upon  Ganelon's  neck  and 
kissed  him  when  he  heard  this  plan  of  revenge. 

So  Ganelon  returned  with  fair  words  on  his 
lips  and  treason  in  his  heart.  Charlemagne 
was  glad  when  he  heard  the  message  of  peace, 
and  he  said,  "  Now  are  my  wars  done,  and  we 
may  ride  home  to  fair  France." 

When  the  army  came  to  the  pass  of  Ron- 
ceval,  the  emperor  said  to  his  knights : 
"  These  passes  are  steep  and  straight  and  full 
of  peril  if  an  enemy  were  in  this  country.  To 
whom  shall  I  trust  the  keeping  of  the  rear  ? " 

"  To  my  stepson  Roland,"  answered  Gane- 
lon. "  You  have  no  other  knight  like  him." 

"  Thou  art  a  very  demon,"  said  Charle- 
magne. "It  seemeth  as  if  rage  had  possessed 
thy  soul.  If  I  give  the  rear  to  Roland  to  com- 
mand, who  then  shall  lead  my  vanguard  ? " 

"  Ogier,"  he  replied,  "  the  gallant  Dane." 

The  emperor  would  not  that  Roland  should 
hear  those  words,  but  Roland  heard  them,  and 
he  stepped  forward  and  said: 


112         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

"  Sir  Stepsire,  I  ought  to  love  thee  well  that 
thou  hast  named  me  for  this  honor.  I  will 
take  good  heed  that  the  emperor  lose  not  a 
charger,  nor  palfrey,  nor  mule,  nor  steed,  that 
is  not  paid  for  by  stroke  of  sword." 

So  it  was  settled  as  Ganelon  had  plotted, 
that  Roland,  the  first  of  all  the  peers  and  the 
favorite  of  Charlemagne's  heart,  should  remain 
with  twenty  thousand  men  and  guard  the  rear 
of  the  marching  host. 

"  Through  Ronceval  the  march  began ; 
Ogier  the  baron  led  the  van ; 
For  them  was  neither  doubt  nor  fear, 
Since  Roland  rested  to  guard  the  rear." 

Ill 

Of  the  coming  of  the  Saracens 

"  Count  Roland  sprang  to  a  hilltop's  height, 
And  donned  his  peerless  armor  bright ; 
Laced  his  helm,  for  a  baron  made ; 
Girt  Durindana,  gold-hilted  blade ; 
Around  his  neck  he  hung  the  shield, 
With  flowers  emblazoned  was  the  field ; 
Nor  steed  but  Veillantif  will  ride ; 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  SARACENS      113 

And  he  grasped  his  lance  with  its  pennon's 

pride. 
White  was  the  pennon,  with  rim  of  gold ; 
Low  to  the  handle  the  fringes  rolled. 
Who  are  his  lovers  men  now  may  see ; 
And   the   Franks   exclaim,  !  We  will   follow 

thee.' 

Then  were  mustered  King  Marsil's  peers, 
With  a  hundred  thousand  heathen  spears. 
They  don  their  hauberks  of  Saracen  mold, 
Wrought  for  the  most  with  a  triple  fold. 
Bright  was  the  sunshine  and  fair  the  day ; 
Their  arms  resplendent  gave  back  the  ray. 

Then  sound  a  thousand  clarions  clear, 

Till  the  Franks  the  mighty  clangor  hear. 

1  Sir  Comrade,'  said  Oliver,  '  I  trow 

There  is  battle  at  hand  with  the  Saracen  foe.' 

{  God  grant,'  said  Roland,  l  it  may  be  so. 

Here  our  post  for  our  king  we  hold ; 

For  his  lord  the  vassal  bears  heat  and  cold, 

Toil  and  peril  endures  for  him, 

Risks  in  his  service  both  life  and  limb.' 


114         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

Sir  Oliver  to  the  peak  hath  clomb, 

Looks  far  on  the  realm  of  Spain  therefrom ; 

He  sees  the  Saracen  power  arrayed, — 

Helmets  gleaming  with  gold  inlaid, 

Shields  and  hauberks  in  serried  row, 

Spears  with  pennons  that  from  them  flow. 

He  may  not  reckon  the  mighty  mass, 

So  far  their  numbers  his  thought  surpass. 

All  in  bewilderment  and  dismay 

Down  from  the  mountains  he  takes  his  way, 

Comes  to  the  Franks  the  tale  to  say. 

1 1  have  seen  the  paynim,'  said  Oliver ; 
'  Never  on  earth  did  such  host  appear : 
A  hundred  thousand  with  targets  bright, 
With  helmets  laced  and  hauberks  white, 
Erect  and  shining  their  lances  tall ; 
Such  battle  as  waits  you  did  ne'er  befall. 
My  lords  of  France,  be  God  your  stay, 
That  you  be  not  vanquished  in  field  to-day.' 
'Accursed,'  say  the  Franks,  'be  they  who  fly; 
None  shall  blench  from  the  fear  to  die. 
Death  were  better  than  fame  laid  low. 
Our  Emperor  loveth  a  downright  blow.' " 


ROLAND'S  PRIDE  115 

IV 

Of  Roland 's  pride 

Ere  the  paynims  came  upon  them,  Oliver 
spoke  to  Roland,  saying :  "  My  comrade,  the 
enemy  are  in  fearful  force,  and  our  Franks 
are  but  few.  Sound  upon  thy  horn.  Then 
Charlemagne  will  hear  and  his  host  return." 

Round  Roland's  neck  hung  a  magic  horn  of 
carved  ivory.  If  he  blew  upon  it  in  case  of 
need,  the  sound  would  be  carried  over  hill  and 
dale  far  onward  to  the  ears  of  Charlemagne. 

But  Roland  would  not  listen  to  Oliver. 

"  I  were  mad  to  do  such  a  deed.  Lost  in 
France  were  my  glory.  My  Durindana  shall 
smite  full  hard,  and  the  heathen  shall  find 
their  fate  in  this  pass." 

"  Nay,  Roland,  sound  on  your  horn,  that 
Charlemagne  may  send  his  legions  back  to 
lend  us  aid,"  entreated  the  wise  Oliver.  But 
he  pleaded  in  vain. 

The  Moslems  swept  nearer,  and  Oliver 
warned  Roland  again,  saying,  "  Thou  seest 
the  heathen  foe,  how  near  they  are  and  how 


Il6         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

many,  and  thou  knowest  how  few  are  we. 
Thou  didst  scorn  to  blow  thy  horn.  The  rear 
guard  shall  do  their  last  brave  feat  to-day. 
Nevermore  will  they  mingle  in  mortal  battle." 

But  Roland,  wild  with  the  joy  of  combat, 
cried,  "  The  emperor  has  left  us  his  bravest 
men,  never  a  coward  heart  among  them. 
We  shall  not  fail." 

Then  Roland  rode  in  front  of  his  ranks  of 
knights,  and  cried,  "  Franks,  remember  your 
chivalry!"  and  the  Franks  responded  with  the 
war  cry  of  Charlemagne,  "  Montjoie  !  Mont- 
joie ! "  Proudly  they  rode  at  their  paynim 
foes,  with  shout  of  victory  on  their  lips. 

But  Charlemagne  rode  sadly  toward  France, 
for  he  had  dreamed  a  dream  that  told  him 
Ganelon  was  a  traitor,  and  it  was  Ganelon 
who  had  set  Roland  to  guard  the  pass.  As 
he  rode  he  said  sadly  to  the  Duke  of  Namo, 
who  rode  beside  him, 

"  'Twas  he  gave  Roland  to  guard  the  rear. 
God !  should  I  lose  him,  my  nephew  dear, 
Whom  I  left  on  a  foreign  soil  behind, 
His  peer  on  earth  I  shall  never  find." 


THE  FIRST  BATTLE  117 

V 

Of  the  battle 

"  Wild  and  fierce  is  the  fight ; 
Stanch  are  the  Franks  with  the  sword  to  smite ; 
Nor  is  there  one  but  whose  blade  is  red. 
*  Montjoie  !'  is  ever  their  war  cry  dread." 

Charlemagne  would  have  gloried  in  his 
knights,  had  he  seen  them  on  that  day  at 
Ronceval.  With  sword  and  lance  they  dashed 
upon  the  Saracens,  making  havoc  in  their 
ranks  and  slaying  those  they  met  in  single 
combat,  till  it  seemed  as  if  there  could  be 
none  left.  Everywhere  through  the  press 
rode  Roland  and  Oliver,  doing  marvelous 
deeds,  and  the  knights  were  never  far  behind 
them.  Ensigns  and  pennons  were  torn  and 
bloodstained,  and  many  a  knight  lay  dead 
on  that  field.  The  foe  fell  by  thousands,  and 
France,  too,  was  reft  in  that  day  of  the  best 
of  her  chivalry.  Dearly  they  sold  their  lives, 
but  well  they  knew,  as  they  met  that  mighty 
host  of  warriors,  that  the  fair  land  of  France 
would  see  them  no  more.     Such  battle  was 


Il8         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

never  seen  in  all  the  fierce  strife  that  King 
Charlemagne  had  waged  in  that  land,  and  at 
last  the  Saracens  turned  and  fled  before  the 
Franks.  They  could  not  stand  against  that 
onslaught.  So  the  battle  was  won  by  the 
Christian  host,  —  the  first  battle  of  that  fight, 
—  but,  oh  !  what  sorrow  remains  to  tell ! 

Of  the  mighty  host  whom  King  Marsilius 
had  led  into  that  pass,  one  hundred  thousand 
lay  dead  on  the  field,  and  with  them  lay  hun- 
dreds of  gallant  knights  of  the  Franks  who 
had  sold  their  lives  full  dearly  for  their  cause. 
As  Roland  and  Oliver  and  those  who  sur- 
vived were  seeking  their  dead  on  the  field, 
they  heard  a  mighty  blast  of  trumpets,  and 
behold !  a  second  heathen  host,  greater  than 
the  one  they  had  vanquished,  riding  down 
upon  them.  Yet  went  they  bravely  to  the 
fight  again,  and  the  cry  of  "  Montjoie ! " 
sounded  forth  in  the  ears  of  that  Saracen  foe. 

Once  more  the  sound  of  battle  rose ;  once 
more  the  gallant  knights  met  their  foe  with 
lance  and  sword,  and  alas !  once  more  the 
ground  was  strewn  with  dead.    Mighty  were 


THE  SOUNDING  OF  THE  HORN  ■     119 

the  deeds  of  valor  that  were  done  that  day. 
But  one  and  another  fell,  until  there  were 
but  three  hundred  left  of  all  that  company. 

As  Roland  watched  Oliver  ever  in  the 
press  of  the  fight,  dealing  blow  upon  blow, 
his  heart  went  out  to  him,  and  he  cried 
aloud,  "  Oh,  my  comrade  faithful  and  true, 
this  day  shall  end  our  love !  this  day  we 
shall  part  on  earth  forever!" 

Oliver  heard,  and  spurred  his  horse  to 
Roland's  side.  "  Keep  near  me,"  he  said;  "we 
will  die  together,  if  God  so  will." 

Yet  the  slaughter  went  on,  fiercer  and 
fiercer,  till  only  sixty  weary  Franks  were 
left.  As  Roland  gazed  on  his  men  lying 
cold  in  death,  and  the  pitiful  little  band  of 
sixty  who  yet  remained,  his  heart  was  heavy 
within  him,  and  he  cried  to  his  wise  com- 
panion, "Would  God  he  had  been  with  us, 
our  emperor,  Charlemagne !  How  shall  we 
send  tidings  to  him  ? " 

'"  I  know  not,"  said  Oliver. 

"  I  will  sound  upon  my  horn,"  said  Roland, 
"  that  he  may  hear." 


120        PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

"  You  were  mad  to  do  such  a  deed.  Lost 
in  France  would  be  your  glory,"  said  Oliver, 
recalling  to  him  his  words  of  the  morning. 

But  Roland's  pride  was  broken,  and  he 
repeated,  "  Nay,  I  will  sound  upon  my  horn." 

"  Wouldst  thou  call  for  aid  ? "  said  Oliver, 
for  his  heart  was  bitter  within  him  for  the 
needless  slaughter  of  the  chivalry  of  France. 

The  good  archbishop  Turpin  heard,  and 
he  spake  to  Roland  sadly,  saying :  "  Aye,  it 
were  well  to  sound  the  call.  It  will  avail  us 
nothing  now,  but  Charlemagne  will  return  to 
avenge  our  death  and  bear  our  bodies  back  to 
gentle  France,  there  to  sleep  in  hallowed  earth." 

Then  Roland  raised  his  horn  and  sounded 
a  mighty  blast.  With  all  the  strength  in  his 
body  he  blew,  and  the  blast  was  borne  onward 
till  it  came  to  the  ears  of  Charlemagne.  Then, 
though  the  traitor  Ganelon  sought  to  dissuade 
him  and  tell  him  he  had  not  heard  aright,  the 
emperor  knew  that  Roland  was  in  dire  distress, 
and  he  turned  him  and  all  the  host.  Sadly 
they  rode  back  with  sorrow  and  fear  in  their 
hearts,  along  the  mountain  road  towards  Spain. 


OLIVER'S  DEATH  121 

Meanwhile  Roland  had  rushed  once  more 
into  the  fight,  crying  to  Oliver,  "  My  brother, 
I  die  of  grief  and  shame,  if  I  escape  un- 
slain." 

Once  more  he  swung  his  sword  with  such 
blows  as  only  he  could  give,  and  the  heathen 
gave  way  before  him.  But  what  did  it  avail  ? 
A  thousand  were  pressing  on  behind.  Roland 
seeing  the  battalions  advancing  cried,  "Our 
hour  is  come!"  and  even  as  he  spoke  a  heathen 
warrior  came  upon  Oliver  from  behind,  while 
he  was  dealing  out  blows  to  those  before  him, 
and  thrust  him  through  with  his  lance. 

"  Roland,  my  comrade,"  cried  the  dying 
Oliver,  "  ride  near  me ;  our  parting  is  near." 

"  O  God ! "  cried  Roland  in  anguish,  as  he 
looked  upon  his  friend  and  saw  his  ghastly 
whiteness ;  "  is  this  the  end  of  thy  prowess, 
my  gentle  friend  ?  On  earth  there  shall  never 
be  such  as  thou.  Ah,  France,  thou  art  indeed 
bereft  of  thy  bravest !  " 

Then  Oliver  slipped  from  his  horse  and 
lay  stretched  on  the  ground,  but  ere  he  passed 
away  he  breathed  a  prayer  that  God  would 


122         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

bless  him,  and  King  Charlemagne, and  France, 
and  last  of  all  his  brother  Roland.  So  he 
passed  away,  and  Roland  was  left  alone. 

M  Since  thou  art  dead,  to  live  is  pain," 
he  cried. 

Once  more  he  dashed  into  the  press,  and 
fought  fiercely.  Yet  first  he  raised  his  horn 
and  sounded  it.  It  was  but  a  feeble  blast,  for 
his  strength  was  near  gone,  but  the  answer 
came  from  sixty  thousand  clarions,  for  Char- 
lemagne's host  was  drawing  nearer. 

"  Charlemagne  !  Charlemagne  !  "  cried  the 
heathen.    "  France  is  upon  us.    Let  us  flee  ! " 

And  they  turned  and  fled  in  dire  panic 
from  that  field ;  but  as  they  went  the  bravest 
of  the  Moslems  hurled  their  weapons  at 
Roland,  for  he  alone  of  all  the  warriors  was 
left.  Yet  he  sank  not  then  before  their  onset, 
but  when  they  were  gone  he  knew  his  end 
was  near.  On  a  mound  beneath  a  pine  tree 
he  laid  him  down  to  die,  but  ere  he  passed 
away  he  thought  of  his  good  sword  Durin- 
dana,  and  he  knew  that  it  must  not  fall  into 
heathen  hands. 


124         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

M  Ah,  Durindana,"  he  cried,  n  thou  wert 
given  to  Charlemagne  to  belong  to  a  valiant 
captain,  and  he  girded  thee  on  me.  Many 
regions  I  have  won  with  thee  for  him,  but 
now  I  must  leave  thee,  and  thou  shalt  never 
fall  in  heathen  hands." 

He  struggled  to  his  feet  and  smote  with 
it  upon  a  great  rock.  Yet  had  he  not  strength 
to  break  it,  but  only  to  bend  it  past  all  use. 

"  That  death  was  on  him  he  knew  full  well ; 
Down  from  his  head  to  his  heart  it  fell. 
On  the  grass  beneath  a  pine-tree's  shade, 
With  his  face  to  earth,  his  form  he  laid, 
Beneath  him  placed  he  his  horn  and  sword, 
And  turned  his  face  to  the  heathen  horde. 
Thus  hath  he  done  the  sooth  to  show, 
That  Karl  and  his  warriors  all  may  know, 
That  the  gentle  count  a  conqueror  died. 
Mea  Culpa  full  oft  he  cried ; 
And,  for  all  his  sins,  unto  God  above, 
In  sign  of  penance,  he  raised  his  glove." 

So  Charlemagne  found  Roland  lying  when 
he  came  to  Ronceval,  with  his  unsurrendered 
sword  beneath  him  and  his  face  toward  Spain. 


GODFREY,  A  KNIGHT  OF  THE 
CRUSADES 

I 

Of  the  summons  that  came  to  the  knigJits  of 
Christendom 

There  has  never  been  a  time  in  the  world's 
history  when  there  were  not  wrongs  to  be 
righted  and  evils  to  be  battled  against;  nor 
were  the  days  of  chivalry  different  from  other 
days.  Always  there  were  knights  who  set 
themselves  to  defend  the  right  and  vanquish 
the  wrong,  and  always  there  was  work  for 
them  to  do.  In  the  days  of  King  Arthur 
there  were  dragons  and  giants  to  fight,  and 
perilous  quests  into  wild  regions  to  be  under- 
taken, and  above  all  there  was  the  honor  of 
the  Round  Table  to  be  upheld.  The  foes  of 
Charlemagne  and  the  peers  of  France  were 
the    Moors   and    Saracens,  heathen    peoples 

from  the   East  who  would  spread  over  the 

125 


126         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

fair  lands  of  Europe  with  their  barbarian 
ways  and  their  strange  religion,  and  kill  and 
drive  out  the  Christian  peoples  if  they  were 
not  opposed  by  a  strong  and  relentless  army 
of  warriors.  And  the  knights  of  that  age 
were  victorious  and  drove  out  the  enemy  and 
saved  their  country  from  the  hordes  of  the 
East,  although  in  the  years  of  that  strife  the 
lifeblood  of  many  noble  knights  was  shed. 

To  the  knights  of  a  later  day  there  came 
yet  another  call  to  service,  and  this  was  the 
fashion  of  its  coming.  It  was  a  pious  custom 
of  that  time  for  men  whose  sins  weighed 
heavily  upon  them,  or  who  sought  a  purity 
which  their  lives  of  strife  and  bloodshed 
could  not  bring  them,  to  lay  aside  their  arms, 
and  putting  on  the  robes  of  pilgrims,  to  make 
long  and  perilous  journeys  over  land  and  sea 
to  the  sacred  places  of  the  Christian  faith. 
But  Jerusalem  and  all  the  Holy  Land  were 
in  the  hands  of  the  heathen  peoples  whom 
Charlemagne  and  his  knights  had  driven 
back  from  Europe.  So  these  pilgrims  re- 
turned with  tales  of  the  shameful  treatment 


THE  COUNCIL  AT  CLERMONT         127 

which  they  had  received  and  of  the  insolence 
of  the  barbarians,  who  desecrated  the  holy 
places  and  heaped  insult  and  violence  upon 
all  Christians.  And  the  hearts  of  knights 
everywhere  burned  at  these  tales,  and  they 
said  it  was  a  shame  and  a  disgrace  to  Chris- 
tendom that  such  things  should  be. 

It  was  in  the  year  1095,  three  hundred 
years  after  Charlemagne  had  waged  his  wars 
against  the  Saracens,  that  Urban,  the  head 
of  the  Christian  church,  called  a  great  council 
of  all  the  people  of  Europe  to  consider  the 
state  of  the  Holy  Land.  It  was  to  be  held  in 
the  little  French  village  of  Clermont,  and  for 
days  before  the  assembly  opened  the  whole 
valley  was  dotted  with  white  tents,  for  the 
villages  could  not  accommodate  the  throngs 
of  travelers  who  had  journeyed  thither  from 
Italy  and  Germany  and  all  of  Christendom. 
No  building  could  hold  the  multitude  of 
people,  so  the  meeting  was  held  in  the  great 
open  square  of  the  town,  and  even  then  the 
streets  leading  in  all  directions  were  packed 
with  men  and  women.     Knights  in  shining 


128         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

armor  stood  next  to  peasants  who  had  left  their 
plows  and  traveled  weary  miles  afoot  to  the 
gathering ;  nobles  in  rich  robes  jostled  against 
monks  and  priests ;  highborn  ladies  stood 
beside  beggars ;  but  none  had  a  thought  for 
any  one  but  the  man  who  stood  on  the  plat- 
form in  the  center  of  the  square.  The  pope 
sat  there  in  his  gorgeous  robes  of  office, 
yet  the  people  looked  not  at  him,  but  at  the 
small  man  with  bare  feet  and  uncovered  head, 
whose  coarse  hermit's  gown  was  worn  and 
ragged  and  whose  face  was  thin  and  haggard 
from  exposure  and  fasting.  This  was  Peter 
the  Hermit,  whose  fame  had  spread  over  all 
Europe.  A  deep  silence  fell  upon  the  people 
as  he  stood  forth,  with  a  great  wooden  cross 
in  his  hand,  and  poured  out  his  story  in  a 
voice  that  was  often  broken  by  sobs  and 
tears.  He  told  of  the  things  he  himself  had 
seen  in  the  Holy  Land.  He  pictured  the 
horrors  which  were  practiced  there  by  the 
infidels  who  ruled  the  city  in  the  pride  of 
their  bloody  conquest.  He  himself  had  stood 
by  and  seen  the   holy   places  profaned  and 


THE  SUMMONS  129 

mocked,  and  Christians  loaded  with  irons  and 
dragged  away  to  slavery  and  death.  Minis- 
ters of  God  were  torn  from  the  churches  and 
beaten  with  rods.  None  were  safe  from  the 
lustful  hands  of  the  heathen. 

He  paused  and  stood  for  a  moment  with 
bowed  head  before  the  people.  Then  in  a 
ringing  voice  he  cried  out :  "Men  of  Chris- 
tendom, I  tell  you  these  things  shall  end. 
I  have  had  a  vision,  and  in  that  holy  place 
itself  I  heard  the  voice  of  God,  and  these 
were  the  words  that  came  to  me :  'Arise, 
Peter,  go  hastily  to  thine  own  land  and 
call  upon  the  people,  telling  what  thou  hast 
seen.  The  time  has  come  when  my  holy 
city  shall  be  cleansed  and  my  people  saved.' 
Arm  yourselves,  therefore,  ye  men  of  Chris- 
tendom, and  prepare  for  war,  for  these  things 
shall  not  be." 

As  Peter  sank  back,  worn  out  with  emo- 
tion, Pope  Urban  rose  and  spoke  to  the 
weeping  multitude :  "  Yes,  brethren,  weep  for 
your  sins  and  this  evil  which  has  come  upon 
Christendom.    But  weeping  is  not  enough. 


130        PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

It  is  in  your  courage  that  the  Christian 
Church  must  hope.  Remember  the  heroes 
who  amid  danger  and  glory  delivered  your 
land  from  these  heathen  peoples.  But  for  the 
exploits  of  Charlemagne  and  his  peers  France 
would  be  in  like  state  with  Palestine. 

"  Christian  warriors,  arise.  Too  long  you 
have  sold  your  swords  to  him  who  would  offer 
you  a  chance  to  fight,  and  cared  not  for  what 
cause  you  battled.  Too  long  you  have  been 
a  terror  to  your  fellow-citizens  because  you 
forgot  the  purpose  of  your  knighthood  and 
sought  only  for  strife  that  ye  might  display 
your  prowess.  To-day  the  knights  of  Christen- 
dom have  found  a  true  cause  to  defend.  Go 
and  fight  against  the  barbarians  for  the  de- 
liverance of  the  holy  places." 

"  God  wills  it !  God  wills  it !  "  the  assem- 
bly shouted  in  wild  enthusiasm. 

"Yes,  God  wills  it!"  said  Urban.  "Let 
those  words  be  your  war  cry,  and  the  cross 
your  symbol.  Wear  it  upon  your  shoulders 
and  your  breasts  ;  let  it  shine  upon  your  arms 
and  your  standards.    It  will   be  to  you   the 


THE  RED  CROSS 


131 


surety  of  victory  or  the  palm  of  martyrdom." 
Once  more  the  people   responded,  "The 

cross!   the  cross!    Give  us  the  cross!" 
And   the   multitude  pressed  forward  and 

received  from  pope  or  bishop  or  priest  a  red 


cross  of  silk  or  cloth.  Knights  and  nobles, 
priests  and  monks,  fastened  it  upon  shoulder 
or  breastplate,  and  he  who  wore  it  was  hence- 
forth known  to  all  the  world  as  one  who 
would  bear  the  cross  to  Palestine  to  defend 
the  faith,  and  was  therefore  called  a  crusader. 


132         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

II 

Of  Godfrey  and  his  army 

Of  all  the  knights  who  pressed  forward  to 
receive  the  red  cross  on  that  November  day 
at  Clermont,  none  was  destined  to  win  such 
fame  and  honor  as  Godfrey  of  Bouillon,  the 
hero  of  our  tale.  When  he  knelt  to  receive  the 
emblem,  Urban  welcomed  him  joyfully. 

11  Now  God  be  praised  !  "  he  cried.  "  God- 
frey of  Bouillon  joins  this  cause.  The  renown 
which  his  valor  has  brought  him  already  shall 
be  increased  a  thousandfold  by  the  victories 
he  shall  win  for  the  faith." 

When  the  pope  had  fastened  the  cross 
upon  the  young  man's  shoulder,  Godfrey 
would  have  risen,  but  Urban  bade  him  kneel 
yet  a  moment  more,  and  put  into  his  hands  a 
sword,  saying :  "  Son  Godfrey,  I  give  you  a 
new  sword,  consecrated  to  this  service.  Draw 
it  only  in  this  cause  to  which  you  have  to-day 
pledged  yourself,  and  you  shall  win  with  it 
great  victories  and  render  untold  service  to 
the  glory  of  God." 


GODFREY  OF  BOUILLON  133 

So  Godfrey  returned  to  his  home  with  a 
new  light  in  his  eye  and  a  new  purpose  in  his 
heart ;  and  as  he  journeyed  through  the  prov- 
inces over  which  he  was  ruler,  he  found  that 
the  news  of  the  Crusade  had  spread  before  him, 
and  that  men  and  women  of  all  ranks  were 
carried  away  with  enthusiasm  for  this  new 
cause.  Knights,  esquires,  and  pages  met  him 
as  he  rode  through  his  duchy  and  begged 
him  to  let  them  enroll  under  his  banner  and 
journey  with  him  to  the  Holy  Land.  Noble 
ladies  stripped  off  their  jewels,  and  wealthy 
merchants  brought  forth  their  hidden  stores 
of  gold  and  poured  them  at  his  feet,  entreat- 
ing him  to  use  them  to  defend  the  faith. 

Pope  Urban  had  done  well  to  rejoice  when 
Godfrey  joined  the  cause.  He  was  a  young 
man  famous  even  in  those  days  of  chivalry 
and  honor  for  the  nobility  of  his  character 
and  the  purity  of  his  life.  His  prowess  in 
battle  and  his  skill  in  every  exercise  of  arms 
had  carried  him  into  the  highest  ranks  of 
knighthood,  and  it  was  said  that  no  youthful 
knight  in  Christendom  wore  his  honors  more 


134         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

modestly  or  ordered  his  life  with  more  wisdom 
and  grace.  As  soon  as  it  was  known  that 
Duke  Godfrey  would  lead  an  army  to  the 
Holy  Land,  the  flower  of  chivalry  flocked  to 
his  standard.  When  he  was  ready  to  set  forth, 
there  rode  behind  him  ten  thousand  knights 
who  were  the  best  in  all  Europe. 

They  were  a  fair  sight,  those  knights,  as 
they  set  forth  from  France  on  that  long 
journey.  At  the  head  of  the  army  rode 
Godfrey,  a  tall  and  knightly  figure  in  coat  of 
mail,  with  silver  helmet.  He  had  laid  aside 
the  insignia  of  his  rank  and  his  richly  em- 
blazoned shield,  and  carried  only  a  round 
buckler  bearing  the  red  cross  of  the  crusader. 
With  him  rode  his  brothers,  Baldwin  and 
Eustace,  and  his  esquire,  Sigier.  Ten  thou- 
sand knights  on  horseback  followed,  clad  in 
coat  of  mail,  and  wearing  helmets  of  silver  or 
steel,  according  to  their  rank.  Every  shield 
was  ornamented  with  the  device  of  the  knight, 
—  a  lion,  a  leopard,  a  star,  a  tower,  a  bird,  or 
some  like  symbol,  —  and  from  every  lance 
floated  a  pennon  of  red,  blue,  green,  or  white. 


135 


136        PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

Behind  the  knights  marched  an  army  of 
eighty  thousand  foot  soldiers,  and  on  the 
breast  of  every  one  of  that  marching  throng 
shone  the  red  cross,  and  from  every  lip  rang 
the  battle  cry  of  the  crusader,  "  God  wills  it !  " 

The  story  of  the  long  march  to  Palestine 
may  be  read  in  the  chronicles  of  the  Crusades. 
The  soldiers  went  through  many  lands  and 
endured  great  hardships  and  perils.  As  they 
crossed  from  Europe  and  came  into  the  lands 
of  the  East,  the  Turks  and  Arabs  met  them 
and  opposed  them  in  fierce  and  bloody  battles. 
It  was  three  years  from  the  time  when  they 
started,  when  they  came  into  the  land  of 
Palestine,  and  in  those  years  many  gallant 
knights  had  laid  down  their  lives.  Pestilence 
and  fever  had  attacked  the  army  and  wrought 
even  more  havoc  than  the  savage  enemy,  so 
that  the  number  of  men  who  came  to  the  Holy 
Land  was  less  than  forty  thousand  of  those 
who  had  set  out  so  bravely  from  France. 

Duke  Godfrey  had  suffered  many  perils, 
but  had  come  safe  through  them  all.  At  one 
time  he  had  been  grievously  wounded  in  an 


JERUSALEM  1 37 

attempt  to  save  a  soldier  who  was  being  killed 
by  a  bear,  and  had  lain  ill  for  many  weeks  in 
his  tent.  Then  the  men  of  the  army  despaired 
for  the  first  time,  and  said,  "  Who  will  lead  us 
and  how  can  we  go  farther  if  our  beloved 
leader  be  taken  from  us  ? "  But  the  fever 
turned  and  Godfrey  recovered,  though  it  was 
many  weeks  before  he  could  leave  the  litter 
in  which  he  was  borne  over  the  weary 
stretches  of  desert  and  mountain,  and  ride 
his  horse  again. 

But  at  last  the  day  came  when  the  stand- 
ard bearers  of  the  army,  coming  to  the  top  of  a 
hill,  raised  the  cry,  "Jerusalem!  Jerusalem!" 
and  the  crusading  host  rushed  forward  to  gaze 
upon  the  city  of  their  dreams.  As  they  looked 
across  the  valley  at  the  Holy  City,  the  warriors 
forgot  the  perils  and  sorrows  of  the  way  and 
raised  a  mighty  shout,  "  Jerusalem  !  God  wills 
it !  "  And  every  prince  and  knight,  and  every 
page  and  esquire  and  priest,  fell  upon  his 
knees  and  gave  thanks  to  God.  When  they 
arose  the  horsemen  did  not  mount  again,  but 
walked  beside  their  steeds,  and  many  of  the 


138        PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

soldiers  stripped  the  gay  pennons  from  their 
lances  and  removed  their  shoes,  walking  bare- 
foot as  they  neared  the  Holy  City.  As  they 
marched  they  sang  the  words  of  the  prophet 
of  old,  "  Jerusalem,  lift  up  thine  eyes  and 
behold  the  liberator  who  comes  to  break 
thy  chains ! " 

III 

Of  the  taking  of  Jerusalem 

A  few  days  after  their  arrival  the  crusaders 
made  a  fierce  attack  upon  Jerusalem,  but  the 
walls  were  high  and  the  fortifications  strong, 
and  the  army  was  beaten  back.  Then  Godfrey 
saw  that  the  city  could  never  be  taken  with- 
out engines  of  war,  and  he  set  his  soldiers  to 
find  building  materials  of  wood  and  iron  and 
stone  with  which  they  could  construct  ma- 
chines for  attack.  With  the  greatest  difficulty 
they  built  three  huge  wooden  towers,  each 
higher  than  the  city  walls,  which  could  be 
rolled  on  wheels.  One  of  these  was  to  be 
commanded  by  Duke  Raymond,  another  by 
Tancred,  and  the  third  by  Godfrey.    But  as 


THE  SIEGE  139 

they  built,  the  Saracens  strengthened  their 
defenses  so  that  it  seemed  as  if  the  city  were 
well-nigh  impregnable. 

At  daybreak  on  the  morning  when  the 
attack  was  to  be  made,  Raymond  came  to 
Godfrey's  tent  and,  seeing  him,  exclaimed  in 
astonishment :  "  What  is  this,  my  lord  ?  Where 
is  your  breastplate  and  your  coat  of  mail?  And 
where  your  helmet  ?    What  meaneth  this  ?  " 

And  Godfrey  replied  :  "  When  Pope  Urban 
gave  me  this  sword  at  Clermont,  making  me 
a  knight  of  the  Crusade,  I  vowed  that  on  the 
day  when  I  attacked  Jerusalem  I  would  not 
fight  as  a  prince  and  commander,  but  as  a 
common  soldier  of  God.  To-day  I  am  fulfill- 
ing my  vow. " 

When  Raymond  heard  this,  he  told  the 
other  princes  of  Godfrey's  decision,  and  they 
all  followed  his  example  of  humility. 

From  their  towers  the  Christians  made  their 
attack,  and  from  the  walls  of  the  city  the 
Turks  fought,  casting  huge  stones  and  boiling 
pitch  and  heavy  arrows  upon  the  soldiers  as 
they  tried  to  scale  the  ramparts.    Raymond's 


140        PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

tower  was  broken  down  and  burned,  and 
Godfrey  and  Tancred  could  scarce  hold  their 
own.  Hour  after  hour  the  conflict  waged,  and 
the  hearts  of  the  crusaders  grew  fearful  as 
they  saw  their  men  falling  on  every  side,  but 
on  the  top  of  the  highest  tower  they  could  see 
Godfrey  leading  them,  and  their  hearts  were 
strong  again.  The  Turks  threw  sacks  of 
blazing  straw  upon  the  wall  where  Godfrey 
was  attacking,  making  a  barricade  of  flame 
which  choked  and  stifled  the  crusaders  as 
they  pushed  forward.  For  a  moment  they 
fell  back,  and  the  Turks  shouted  with  joy, 
thinking  the  victory  won.  But  at  that  moment 
a  knight  was  seen  on  the  Mount  of  Olives, 
radiant  in  glittering  white  armor,  and  waving 
toward  the  Holy  City  a  white  shield  marked 
with  the  red  cross.  Godfrey,  the  first  to  see 
this  strange  warrior,  shouted  :  "  St.  George  to 
our  aid  !    The  saints  fight  for  us  !  " 

At  that  moment  the  wind  changed  and 
drove  the  flames  towards  the  Saracens,  so  that 
they  fell  back.  That  was  Godfrey's  chance. 
He  dropped  the  drawbridge  from  his  tower, 


WITHIN  THE  HOLY  CITY 


141 


and  sprang  across  it  to  the  wall  of  the  city. 
Brave  knights  followed  him,  driving  back  the 
Turks,  and  Godfrey  stood  victorious  on  the 
walls  of  Jerusalem. 

A  frightful  slaughter  followed,  as  the 
Christians  dashed  into  the  city.  Godfrey 
fought  as  long  as  there  was  need,  but  when 


he  could  not  restrain  his  men  from  massa- 
cring their  hated  foe  even  after  all  resistance 
had  ceased,  he  threw  away  his  bloody  weap- 
ons and  went  with  three  companions  to  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Sepulcher.  Barefoot  and, 
without  arms  he  entered  the  church,  and 
kneeling  there,  gave  thanks  that  Jerusalem 
had  been  rescued  from  the  infidels. 


142        PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

When  the  other  crusaders  heard  of  this 
pious  act,  they  ceased  their  bloody  work  and 
came  and  offered  up  their  prayers  with  him. 
And  the  priests  chanted  a  new  anthem  to  the 
kneeling  multitude,  repeating  over  and  over 
the  words  of  the  prophet,  "  You  who  love 
Jerusalem,  rejoice  with  her,  rejoice  with  her." 

When  the  barons  and  lords  came  together 
after  the  conquest  of  Jerusalem,  they  decided 
to  elect  a  king  who  should  remain  in  the 
Holy  Land  and  guard  the  Holy  City.  God- 
frey was  chosen  to  this  office  because  of  his 
great  wisdom  and  valor  and  piety,  and  he 
fulfilled  his  duties  faithfully  and  gained  many 
victories.  But  it  was  only  for  one  year.  A 
fever  came  upon  him,  and  he  died  just  twelve 
months  after  the  capture  of  the  city.  He  was 
buried  in  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Sepulcher, 
and  his  sword  was  hung  upon  the  walls  of 
the  church.  Over  his  grave  was  laid  a  stone 
with  the  words,  "  Here  lieth  the  victorious 
Duke  Godfrey  of  Bouillon,  who  won  all  this 
land  to  the  Christian  faith." 


THE  TROUBADOUR 

Gayly  the  Troubadour  touched  his  guitar, 
As  he  was  hastening  home  from  the  war, 
Singing,  "  From  Palestine  hither  I  come,  — 
Lady-love,  lady-love,  welcome  me  home !  " 

She  for  her  Troubadour  hopelessly  wept, 
Sadly  she  thought  on  him  while  others  slept, 
Sighing,  "In  search  of  thee,  would  I  might 

roam, 
Troubadour,  Troubadour,  come  to  thy  home !  " 

Hark!  'twas  the  Troubadour  breathing  her 

name, 
As  under  the  battlement  softly  he  came, 
Singing,  "  From  Palestine  hither  I  come, 
Lady-love,  lady-love,  welcome  me  home ! " 
143 


THE  ORDER  OF  ST.  GEORGE 


How  the  order  came  to  be 

For  two  hundred  years  the  knights  of 
Christendom  made  the  conquest  of  the  Holy 
Land  their  goal.  Ever  and  anon  as  the  years 
went  by  and  one  Crusade  after  another  failed 
in  its  purpose  of  driving  the  heathen  forever 
out  of  Palestine,  a  new  king  or  priest  or  war- 
rior would  come  forward  and  summon  the 
knights  to  join  once  more  in  this  sacred  en- 
terprise. But  the  time  came  when  the  cru- 
sading spirit  passed,  and  there  was  no  great 
mission  to  unite  all  men  of  chivalry  and 
honor.  King  Edward  the  Third  of  England 
pondered  long  over  this  matter,  as  the  chron- 
icler tells  us,  and  then  resolved  to  rebuild  the 
great  castle  of  Windsor,  formerly  founded  by 
King  Arthur,  and  there  in  that  place,  where 

the   Round  Table   was   first  established,  to 

144 


THE  ORDER  OF  ST.  GEORGE  145 

create  an  order  of  knights,  the  bravest  in 
the  land.  They  were  to  be  forty  in  number, 
and  the  day  when  they  should  be  called  to- 
gether should  be  the  feast  day  of  St.  George; 
and  because  you  do  not  know  the  story  of 
St.  George  as  it  was  told  to  every  page  in 
England  before  ever  he  became  an  esquire, 
I  am  going  to  tell  it  to  you  now  as  it  is 
written  in  the  ancient  books  of  England. 
Then  you  will  see  why  this  new  order  of 
knights  met  on  St.  George's  day  and  were 
called  by  his  name,  and  why  the  rallying  cry 
of  every  English  army  was 

"  St.  George  of  merry  England. 
The  sign  of  victory." 


146         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

II 

How  St.  George  fought  tJie  dragon 

u  And  by  my  pen  I  will  recite 
St.  George's  deeds,  an  English  knight." 

Away  back  in  the  second  century  after 
Christ,  many  hundred  years  before  the  com- 
ing of  King  Arthur,  the  ancient  city  of  Cov- 
entry gave  birth  to  St.  George,  the  first 
Christian  hero  of  England,  who  was  also  the 
first  knight-errant  that  ever  sought  adven- 
ture in  foreign  lands.  He  deemed  it  dis- 
honorable, when  he  grew  to  be  a  man,  to 
spend  his  time  at  home  in  idleness,  and  not 
achieve  somewhat  by  valor  and  prowess,  so 
he  set  out  from  England  in  search  of  worthy 
adventure. 

After  many  months  of  travel  by  sea  and 
land  George  came  in  his  journeyings  to 
Egypt,  which  country  was  then  greatly  an- 
noyed by  a  dangerous  dragon.  It  is  a  fear- 
some description  of  him  that  the  minstrel 
of  that  day  gives. 


THE  DRAGON  1 47 

"  Within  that  country  there  did  rest 
A  dreadful  dragon,  fierce  and  fell, 
Whereby  they  were  full  sore  oppressed. 
Who  by  his  poisonous  breath  each  day 
Did  many  of  the  city  slay. 
His  skin  more  hard  than  brass  was  found, 
That  sword  nor  lance  could  pierce  nor  wound." 

This  terrible  dragon  had  ranged  up  and 
down  the  country  for  twenty-four  years,  kill- 
ing many  and  leaving  devastation  in  his  path. 

George,  seeking  for  shelter  one  night,  was 
told  this  tale  by  an  old  hermit  at  whose  door 
he  knocked.  Only  on  days  when  an  innocent 
maiden  was  offered  up  to  be  swallowed  alive, 
the  old  man  told  him,  did  the  dragon  cease 
to  give  forth  this  poisonous  breath,  against 
which  no  man  living  could  stand.  But  now, 
alas !  all  the  maidens  had  been  offered  up. 
In  all  Egypt  there  was  none  left  but  the 
king's  daughter,  and  on  the  morrow  she 
must  give  herself  to  the  dragon  unless  some 
brave  knight  could  be  found  who  should 
have  courage  to  encounter  him  and  kill  him. 
To  such  a  knight  the  king  had  promised  to 


148         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

give  his  daughter  in  marriage  and  the  crown 
of  Egypt  after  his  death. 

The  tale  of  this  terrible  monster  and  the 
news  of  the  royal  reward  so  fired  the  English 
knight  that  he  vowed  that  he  would  either 
save  the  king's  daughter  or  lose  his  own  life 
in  so  glorious  an  enterprise.  He  took  his 
repose  with  the  old  hermit  that  night,  and  at 
sunrise  buckled  on  his  armor  and  journeyed 
to  the  valley  where  the  king's  daughter  was 
to  be  offered  up.  The  bold  knight  had  scarce 
entered  the  valley  where  the  dragon  had  his 
abode,  when  the  fiery  monster  caught  sight  of 
him  and  sent  forth  from  his  leathern  throat 
a  sound  more  terrible  than  thunder.  George 
turned  and  beheld  the  dreadful  sight.  The 
size  of  this  fell  dragon  was  fearful  to  behold, 
for  his  length  from  his  shoulder  to  his  tail 
was  more  than  fifty  feet,  and  the  scales  on 
his  body  shone  like  glittering  brass.  The 
knight  rode  against  him  with  all  his  speed, 
thrusting  his  spear  straight  at  the  fiery  drag- 
on's jaws,  but  it  broke  to  splinters  against 
those  brass-like  scales. 


ST.  GEORGE  AND  THE  DRAGON   149 

"  The  dragon  then  'gan  him  assail, 
And  smote  our  hero  with  his  tail ; 
Then  down  before  him  went  horse  and  man, 
Two  ribs  of  George  were  bruised  then. 
Up  started  George  with  right  good  will, 
And  after  ran  the  dragon  still. 
The  dragon  was  aggrieved  sore, 
And  smote  at  George  more  and  more. 
Long  and  hard  was  the  fight 
Between  the  dragon  and  the  knight." 

At  last  George  hit  him  under  the  right 
wing,  which  was  the  only  place  where  there 
were  no  scales.  He  smote  so  hard  with  his 
sword  that  it  went  in  up  to  the  hilt,  and 
the  dragon  fell  lifeless  on  the  ground. 

Thus  within  the  view  of  the  maiden  who  was 
waiting  to  be  offered  up  he  slew  the  dragon. 

"  When  as  that  valiant  champion  there 
Had  slain  the  dragon  in  the  field, 
To  court  he  brought  the  lady  fair, 
Which  to  all  hearts  much  joy  did  yield." 

When  the  people  of  the  city  saw  him  com- 
ing with  the  dragon's  head  upon  his  spear, 
they  began   to  ring  the   bells,  and   brought 


150        PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

him  into  town  with  great  procession.  Not 
only  in  Egypt  but  in  all  the  world  he  was 
held  in  great  honor,  and  was  made  welcome 
in  every  place  wherever  he  journeyed  for  that 
brave  deed.  In  those  days  he  was  reckoned 
one  of  the  seven  great  champions  of  the  world, 
and  so  dearly  did  all  knights  hold  him  in 
remembrance  in  later  days  that  they  called 
upon  him  for  aid  in  battle,  thinking  of  him 
as  a  saint  in  heaven;  and  the  story  goes,  as 
you  have  read,  that  when  the  knights  were 
in  great  danger  at  Jerusalem,  he  did  appear 
to  Godfrey  and  the  army  and  signed  them 
on  to  enter  and  conquer  the  Holy  City.  Many 
times  the  soldiers  returned  from  battle  with 
the  tale  of  how,  when  the  day  was  going 
against  them  and  they  had  prayed  for  aid, 
they  had  seen  St.  George  appear  in  white 
armor,  with  the  blood-red  cross  on  his  shoul- 
der and  the  dragon  on  his  shield,  and  always 
thereafter  the  soldiers  pushed  forward  with 
fresh  enthusiasm  and  won  the  day,  shouting, 

"  St.  George  of  merry  England, 
The  sign  of  victory." 


152        PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

III 

How  the  order  of  St.  George  was  founded 

Therefore  it  was  that  King  Edward  called 
his  knights  together  on  the  day  of  St.  George, 
when  he  would  found  a  new  order  of  knight- 
hood, whose  members  should  perform  in  their 
day  deeds  as  brave  and  as  needful  as  those  of 
St.  George  and  of  the  knights  of  the  Round 
Table. 

First  he  summoned  all  the  earls  and  barons 
and  knights  of  the  whole  realm,  and  signified 
his  purpose  and  great  desire  to  form  such  an 
order.  They  all  concurred  joyfully  in  this, 
for  it  appeared  to  them  an  honorable  under- 
taking. Forty  knights  were  elected,  who  were 
known  and  celebrated  as  the  greatest,  and 
they  bound  themselves  by  oath  and  fealty  to 
obey  the  ordinances  agreed  upon.  For  their 
name  they  took  w  The  Order  of  St.  George," 
and  for  the  distinctive  garment  of  the  order 
a  blue  woolen  mantle  lined  with  scarlet  (save 
the  king's,  which  was  lined  with  ermine), 
and    upon   every   mantle  were  wrought   the 


THE  MOTTO  OF  THE  ORDER    153 

arms  of  St.  George.  There  is  a  pretty  story 
of  the  way  their  motto  came  to  them,  and  it 
shows  well  the  knightly  courtesy  of  those  days. 

A  few  days  before  the  feast  of  St.  George, 
while  the  king  was  still  planning  the  brother- 
hood, the  garter  of  the  queen  or  one  of  the 
noble  ladies  of  the  court  fell  off  as  she  danced. 
King  Edward  bent  to  take  it  from  the  ground 
and,  observing  the  smiles  of  the  courtiers, 
exclaimed,  "  Evil  be  to  him  who  evil  thinks," 
adding  that  the  garter  would  soon  be  held  in 
such  high  estimation  that  they  would  count 
themselves  happy  if  they  were  permitted  to 
wear  it.  When  the  order  of  St.  George  was 
founded,  every  knight  wore  upon  his  shoulder 
a  garter  of  blue  cloth  or  silk  embroidered 
with  gold,  and  upon  it  was  inscribed  the 
motto  of  the  order,  "Evil  be  to  him  who  evil 
thinks";  by  which  the  knights  meant  that  only 
to  him  who  carried  evil  in  his  heart  would 
the  world  be  evil. 

When  the  forty  knights  were  elected,  they 
sent  heralds  to  proclaim  in  France  and  Scot- 
land, Burgundy  and   Flanders,   Brabant  and 


154        PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

the  German  Empire,  that  the  order  of  St. 
George  would  hold  at  Windsor  Castle  a  feast 
and  tourney  to  which  all  knights  and  esquires 
were  invited.  To  all  who  should  be  willing  to 
come  a  safe-conduct  would  be  granted  until 
fifteen  days  after  the  feast,  no  matter  what 
wars  should  be  going  on  at  the  time.  There 
was  to  be  held  at  this  feast  a  jousting  by 
the  forty  knights  of  the  order  of  St.  George 
against  all  comers,  and  also  by  forty  esquires. 
So  should  they  prove  their  knightly  skill  to 
all  the  world.  Moreover,  the  queen  of  England, 
accompanied  by  three  hundred  ladies  and 
damsels,  was  to  be  present. 

The  king  made  great  preparations  for  the 
feast,  and  for  fifteen  days  the  tourney  was 
held  at  Windsor  Castle.  Many  knights  crossed 
the  sea  to  be  present,  and  there  was  great 
feasting  and  much  skillful  tourneying. 

Thus  King  Edward  renewed  in  those  later 
days  the  order  of  the  Round  Table,  making 
St.  George  the  patron  thereof.  In  every  land 
like  orders  of  knighthood  were  founded,  and 
for  the  time  the  glory  of  chivalry  was  renewed. 


CHEVALIER  BAYARD 
I 

Telling  hoiv  Bayard  chose  to  be  a  knight 

In  the  Province  of  Dauphiny  in  France 
there  were  in  the  fifteenth  century  great 
and  noble  families  from  which  had  sprung 
many  virtuous  and  noble  knights,  and  of 
these  families  none  was  more  noble  than 
the  family  of  Bayard. 

When  Lord  Bayard,  the  head  of  the  family, 
was  an  old  man  and  knew  that  he  must 
soon  go  the  way  of  his  fathers,  he  called 
to  him  his  four  sons  and  asked  each  to  tell 
him  what  he  desired  to  be.  The  eldest  chose 
to  dwell  at  home  on  the  estates  which  would 
come  to  him  by  inheritance,  and  the  two 
youngest  were  to  go  into  the  service  of  the 
church ;  but  when  it  came  to  the  turn  of  the 
second  son  to  speak,  he  told  his  father  that 
he  wanted  to  be  a  knight  and  follow  the  pur- 
suit of  arms.     That  was  Pierre,  who  was  then 

155 


156         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

thirteen  years  old,  and  his  eyes  sparkled  and 
his  face  glowed  with  eagerness  as  he  spoke. 
His  father  was  well  pleased  that  he  should 
choose  this  noble  calling,  and  thus  follow  in 
the  line  of  his  brave  forefathers,  and  prom- 
ised that  he  would  let  him  carry  out  his  wish. 

The  father  sent  one  of  his  serving  men  the 
very  next  day  to  the  Bishop  of  Grenoble,  his 
brother-in-law,  praying  him  to  come  at  his 
good  pleasure  to  his  castle.  The  good  bishop 
came  immediately,  and  sat  down  the  next 
night  at  a  banquet  which  had  been  pre- 
pared to  welcome  him.  As  was  the  cus- 
tom of  those  days,  the  sons  of  the  house 
waited  upon  their  elders  at  table,  and  so 
well  and  gracefully  did  Pierre  serve  that 
he  drew  praise  from  all  who  were  present. 

When  the  meal  was  concluded,  Lord  Bayard 
told  the  company  that  his  second  son  desired 
to  become  a  knight. 

"  I  must  therefore,"  he  said,  "as  the  first 
step  place  him  in  the  household  of  some 
prince  or  lord,  that  he  may  learn  to  behave 
himself  with  courtesy,  and  that  when  he  is 


BAYARD'S  CALLING  157 

older  he  may  be  trained  in  the  use  of  arms. 
I  pray  you  to  advise  me  where  I  may  best 
place  him." 

One  guest  recommended  this  house  and 
another  that  one  for  the  lad,  but  the  bishop 
counseled  that  he  be  sent  to  the  Duke  of 
Savoy. 

"  You  know  how  friendly  the  duke  is  to 
our  house.  I  believe  he  will  right  willingly 
take  the  lad  as  one  of  his  pages.  He  is  now 
at  Chambery  for  a  visit ;  to-morrow,  if  it 
please  thee,  I  will  ride  thither  with  the  boy 
and  present  him  as  page  to  the  duke.  Be  at 
no  expense  for  him ;  I  myself  will  equip  and 
mount  him." 

The  counsel  of  the  bishop  was  approved 
by  all  the  company,  and  the  aged  father  led 
the  boy  to  the  bishop  and  delivered  him  over 
to  him  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  saying,  "  Take 
him,  my  lord,  and  I  pray  God  that  wherever 
you  may  place  the  boy  he  may  do  you  honor." 

The  bishop,  true  to  his  promise,  sent  for 
his  costumer,  who  worked  all  night  getting 
an  outfit  ready  for  the  lad,  and  on  the  morrow 


158         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

all  was  prepared.  After  breakfast  Pierre  was 
shown  his  new  charger,  which  had  been 
led  into  the  courtyard.  All  the  men  of  the 
castle  had  gathered  to  bid  the  boy  farewell, 
and  they  watched  to  see  him  mount.    The 


horse,  accustomed  to  a  man's  weight,  plunged 
and  reared  when  Pierre  leaped  into  the  saddle, 
and  all  the  company  thought  he  would  throw 
the  boy.  But  Pierre  gave  him  a  touch  with 
the  spurs,  and  brought  him  with  a  gallop 
round  the  courtyard  as  if  he  were  a  man 
of  thirty. 


BAYARD'S  EQUIPMENT  159 

With  tears  of  pride  in  his  eyes  the  father 
took  an  affectionate  leave  of  him  and  gave 
him  his  blessing,  and  his  mother  came  from 
the  tower  window  where  she  had  been  watch- 
ing him  and  gave  him  wise  counsel,  saying: 

"  My  child,  you  are  going  into  the  service 
of  a  noble  prince.  I  charge  you  to  observe 
three  things,  which  if  you  do,  be  assured  you 
shall  prosper.  First,  before  all  things,  love, 
fear,  and  serve  God.  Again,  be  gentle  and 
courteous  to  all  men,  keeping  thyself  from 
pride  and  being  ever  loyal  in  word  and  deed. 
And  third,  be  charitable  to  the  poor  and 
needy.  And  may  we  always  have  good  re- 
port of  you,  my  son." 

The  good  lady  drew  out  of  her  sleeve  a 
little  purse  in  which  there  were  six  crowns 
of  gold  and  one  of  silver,  and  presented  it  to 
her  son.  He  took  leave  of  her  tenderly  and 
gratefully,  and  rode  away,  but  for  all  the 
sorrow  of  parting,  as  he  felt  the  charger 
under  him  and  rode  along  the  road  to  Cham- 
bery  with  his  uncle,  Pierre  Bayard  thought 
himself  in  Paradise. 


160        PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

II 

Telling  how  Bayard  received  his  knightly  training 

When  they  came  to  Chambery,  the  bishop 
and  his  nephew  were  graciously  received  by 
the  duke,  who  pressed  them  to  dine  with 
him.  The  boy  Bayard  waited  upon  his  uncle 
so  gracefully  at  the  table  that  the  duke  ob- 
served it  and  asked  who  the  lad  was. 

"He  is  my  nephew,  sir,  whom  I  have 
brought  to  present  to  you,  if  his  services 
would  be  of  use  to  you,"  replied  the  bishop. 

?  Truly  I  should  be  a  strange  man  and 
hard  to  please,  if  I  refused  such  a  gift ;  and  if 
he  walks  in  the  steps  of  his  fathers,  he  will  be 
a  brave  man,"  said  the  duke,  looking  at  the 
handsome,  yellow-haired  child. 

So  Bayard  became  a  page  in  the  duke's 
household,  and  there  he  remained  for  the 
space  of  half  a  year.  He  served  the  lords 
and  ladies  well  and  with  spirit ;  he  jumped 
and  wrestled  and  exercised  with  the  other 
lads ;  and  above  all  he  excelled  in  horseman- 
ship, which  is  most  needful  in  a  knight. 


BAYARD  AS  PAGE  l6l 

Then  the  duke  determined  to  go  and  visit 
the  king  of  France  at  Lyons,  where  he  was 
visiting  with  his  princes  and  nobles  and  lead- 
ing a  merry  life  with  jousts  and  tournaments 
daily,  and  he  took  Bayard  with  him  as  one 
of  his  attendants.  The  king,  hearing  that 
the  Duke  of  Savoy  was  coming  to  Lyons, 
sent  a  count  of  his  household  to  meet  him 
on  the  road  and  welcome  him.  The  count 
and  his  attendants  met  the  party  when  they 
were  some  two  leagues  away  from  Lyons,  and 
as  they  rode  the  count  spoke  of  the  yellow- 
haired  page  who  rode  before  him. 

"  My  friend,"  he  said,  "  you  have  there  a 
page  who  rides  a  goodly  steed,  and  what 
is  more,  he  rides  it  prettily." 

"  On  my  faith,"  said  the  duke,  "  it  is 
scarcely  six  months  since  the  Bishop  of 
Grenoble  made  me  a  present  of  him,  and 
yet  I  have  never  seen  a  youth  of  his  age 
disport  himself  more  bravely  or  with  better 
grace,  both  on  horseback  and  on  foot.  He 
comes  from  a  race  of  brave  and  bold  gentle- 
men, whom  I  believe  he  will  resemble." 


1 62         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

Then  he  said  to  the  boy :  "  Spur,  Bayard, 
spur!    Give  your  horse  a  gallop  !" 

The  boy,  liking  nothing  better,  galloped 
off  instantly,  and  came  back  a  moment  later 
panting  from  his  swift  run. 

"  Upon  my  word,  my  lord,"  said  the  count 
admiringly,  "  that  is  indeed  a  youth  who,  to 
my  thinking,  will  make  a  noble  knight  if  he 
lives.  I  advise  you  to  give  both  horse  and 
page  as  present  to  the  king,  for  he  will  be 
much  pleased  thereat,  the  horse  being  strong 
and  handsome,  and  the  page,  in  my  eyes, 
still  better." 

So  it  came  about  that  Bayard  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  service  of  the  king,  where  he 
remained  three  years  as  page,  until  he  was 
seventeen.  Then  he  exchanged  the  page's 
dagger  for  the  sword  of  the  esquire,  and 
was  sent  into  Italy  to  a  garrison  of  men 
at  arms  to  gain  practice  in  arms. 


BAYARD'S  TOURNAMENT  163 

III 

Telling  how  Bayard  gave  a  tournament 

The  king's  last  word  to  Chevalier  Bayard 
(for  so  he  was  called  from  the  day  when  he 
became  an  esquire)  was  this :  M  You  go  into 
a  province  where  there  are  many  fair  ladies. 
Endeavor  to  find  favor  in  their  sight." 

When  Bayard  came  to  the  Italian  town  he 
was  cordially  welcomed,  and  was  given  a  gay 
supper  by  the  young  esquires  of  the  garrison. 
As  they  s.at  at  table  one  of  the  company,  a 
merry  fellow,  said :  "  Friend,  I  think  it  right 
to  tell  you  that  in  all  Italy  there  are  no  more 
beautiful  ladies  than  those  in  this  town.  It  is 
impossible  you  should  have  come  hither  from 
the  court  of  France  without  gold.  You  must 
on  your  arrival  do  something  in  order  to 
obtain  the  favor  of  these  ladies.  It  is  long 
since  a  prize  has  been  given  here,  and  I  pray 
you  therefore  to  give  one  before  eight  days 
are  over.  Grant  this,  I  do  entreat  you,"  he 
concluded  laughingly,  "being  my  first  request 
to  you." 


1 64         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

"  By  my  faith,"  replied  the  chevalier,  "  hadst 
thou  asked  a  far  greater  thing,  I  should  will- 
ingly have  granted  it.  As  for  this,  it  is  a 
question  whether  it  will  give  me  or  you  the 
greatest  pleasure.  If  to-morrow  you  will  send 
around  the  trumpeter,  we  shall  make  every 
preparation." 

The  next  morning  the  young  lord  was  at 
Bayard's  door  with  the  trumpeter,  and  the 
chevalier  gave  him  this  proclamation  to  read. 

"  Pierre  of  Bayard,  young  gentleman  and 
beginner  in  the  use  of  arms,  native  of  Dau- 
phiny,  one  of  the  household  of  the  king  of 
France,  hereby  proclaims  a  tournament  to 
be  held  on  the  outskirts  of  the  town  of  Ay  re, 
open  to  all  comers,  on  the  twentieth  of  July, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  fourteen  hundred  and 
ninety-five ;  this  tournament  to  be  of  three 
tilts  with  unsheathed  and  blunted  lances, 
in  open  lists  and  full  armor;  and  of  twelve 
sword  thrusts ;  the  whole  on  horseback.  The 
victor  to  receive  as  prize  a  golden  bracelet 
enameled  with  his  arms,  of  the  weight  of 
thirty    crowns.    The   next    day   will    be    for 


THE  PROCLAMATION  1 65 

encounters  on  foot ;  a  combat  of  lances,  and, 
after  lances  are  broken,  the  combat  contin- 
ued with  wooden  maces  at  the  discretion  of 
the  judges.  The  prize  to  be  a  diamond  of  the 
value  of  forty  crowns." 

"Of  a  surety,"  said  the  young  lord,  "not 
Lancelot,  nor  Tristram,  nor  Gawain  ever  did 
better.  Trumpeter,  herald  this  throughout 
the  town ;  then  go  to  all  the  garrisons  within 
three  days  to  proclaim  it  to  all  our  friends." 

There  were  many  gentlemen  of  arms  in 
Picardy  in  those  days,  and  they  got  themselves 
ready  without  delay.  Every  day  they  amused 
themselves  with  practice  and  banquet.  Trou- 
badours improvised  new  songs  in  honor  of 
the  ladies,  and  of  the  chevalier  Bayard. 

At  length  the  longed-for  day  came,  and  all 
those  who  would  take  part  in  the  tournament 
entered  the  lists.  Forty-six  gentlemen  appeared 
and  were  divided  into  two  parties  by  the 
judges.  This  done,  the  herald  published  the 
order  of  combat  and  the  rules  of  battle.  The 
galleries  about  the  field  were  filled  with  fair 
ladies,  and  every  knight  bore  on  his  shield  a 


1 66         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

sleeve,  bow,  glove,  or  scarf  given  him  by  the 
lady  whom  he  would  serve  by  his  deeds  of 
arms.  By  their  shields  and  these  tokens  only 
could  they  be  known,  for  every  knight  was 
covered  from  top  to  toe  with  shining  armor. 

Bayard  was  the  first  to  present  himself  on 
the  course,  and  Aymond  of  Dauphiny,  his 
cousin,  was  the  first  to  meet  him.  This  was 
the  combat  with  blunted  lances,  and  they 
rode  against  each  other  so  furiously  and 
aimed  so  accurately  that  Aymond  snapped 
his  lance  in  two  and  Bayard,  striking  above 
the  elbow,  broke  his  into  a  dozen  pieces. 
Yet  with  all  the  force  of  the  blow  neither 
was  unhorsed.  The  trumpet  sounded  and  all 
applauded,  for  that  had  been  a  beautiful  joust. 

The  second  and  third  combats  went  as  well. 
Then  they  drew  out  their  swords,  the  points 
of  which  were  covered  so  that  no  injury  should 
be  done,  and  contested  with  them,  fighting  as 
before  in  pairs.  It  was  agreed  by  the  judges, 
as  well  as  by  all  who  watched,  that  better  tilt- 
ing with  the  lance  or  clashing  with  the  sword 
had  never  been  seen.   In  the  evening  they  all 


1 68         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

repaired  to  the  dwelling  of  Bayard,  who  had 
provided  a  magnificent  supper,  which  was 
graced  by  the  presence  of  many  fair  ladies. 
Although  it  was  very  late  when  they  sepa- 
rated after  the  feasting  and  dancing,  there 
was  not  a  single  gentleman  who  did  not  pay 
his  respects  to  Bayard  at  his  home  early  the 
next  morning,  and  thank  him  courteously  for 
his  gracious  hospitality. 

The  next  day  the  program  was  carried 
through,  and  for  seven  hours  the  valiant 
gentlemen  contested.  When  all  was  over  they 
went  once  more  to  the  house  of  the  good 
chevalier,  and  after  the  supper  the  judges  with 
one  voice  pronounced  that,  while  it  was  no 
detriment  to  the  others  to  so  report,  yet 
Bayard  had  shown  himself,  of  all  the  knights 
that  had  contested,  the  best.  Then  they  asked 
the  good  Bayard  to  whom  they  should  give 
the  prize,  for  he  would  not  take  it  because  he 
was  host ;  and  he  declared  they  should  give  it 
to  those  who  each  day  were  deemed  the  best 
beside  himself.  Many  praises  were  given  to 
Chevalier  Bayard  for  this  tourney  which  he  gave. 


AN  ADVENTURE  1 69 

IV 

Telling  of  an  adventure  that  he  had 

Bayard's  life  in  Italy  was  not  made  up  en- 
tirely of  playing  the  game  of  war  on  the  field 
of  tourney.  Before  he  had  been  many  months 
in  the  garrison,  certain  towns  near  by  rose  in 
revolt  against  the  king  of  France.  This  was 
but  one  part  of  a  widespread  warfare  in  which 
Germany  was  trying  to  send  an  army  into 
Italy  and  win  that  country  away  from  France. 
The  king  sent  an  army  to  hold  his  unruly 
subjects  in  submission,  and  while  they  were 
yet  on  the  way  Chevalier  Bayard  heard  that 
there  were  within  a  neighboring  garrison 
three  hundred  horsemen  of  the  enemy.  He 
begged  his  companions  to  go  with  him  to 
surprise  them,  which  they  did  most  gladly. 

When  the  captain  of  those  Italian  horse- 
men heard  through  his  spies  that  the  French 
had  ridden  forth  to  meet  him,  he  would  not 
tarry  inside  the  walls  of  the  fort  to  be  taken 
as  a  bird  in  the  nest,  but  rode  without  the 
wall  and  there  awaited  his  assailants. 


170        PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

The  French  advanced  with  a  mighty 
charge,  crying,  "  For  France  !  For  France  !  " 
and  many  on  both  sides  were  brought  to  the 
ground.  The  combat  lasted  a  full  hour,  dur- 
ing which  none  knew  which  side  would  be 
successful.  This  made  the  chevalier  angry, 
so  that  he  called  out  to  his  companions,  say- 
ing: "Ho,  my  lords!  shall  we  be  held  here  all 
the  livelong  day  by  these  few  men  ?  To  hand  ! 
Be  of  good  courage  !  Throw  them  to  earth !  " 

At  his  words  his  companions,  exerting 
themselves  afresh,  rushed  with  new  force 
upon  the  Italians,  who,  beginning  to  lose 
ground,  retreated  a  little,  still  defending  them- 
selves manfully.  The  French  drove  the  little 
band  back  four  or  five  miles  along  the  road 
to  Milan,  although  they  could  not  overcome 
them.  When,  how'ever,  the  Italians  found 
themselves  nearing  Milan,  they  turned  and 
fled  at  a  rapid  pace  towards  the  town.  The 
French  pursued  until  quite  close  to  the  gates ; 
then  some  of  the  older  men  called  aloud, 
"  Turn,  turn,  men  of  arms !  "  All  heard  save 
Bayard,  who  was  so  absorbed  in  the  combat 


BAYARD  A  PRISONER  171 

that  he  paid  no  heed  to  where  he  was,  but 
dashed  on  after  his  antagonist,  with  whom  he 
was  then  exchanging  blows.  He  did  not  no- 
tice the  city  gates  or  the  houses,  so  eager  was 
he,  but  galloped  pell-mell  after  the  enemy, 
until  of  a  sudden  he  found  himself  in  the 
square  in  front  of  the  palace,  surrounded  on 
all  sides  by  shouting  Italians.  The  captain 
of  the  band  which  he  had  followed  took  him 
prisoner  and  led  him  within  the  palace,  where 
presently  the  lord  of  the  castle,  hearing  that 
he  was  a  wondrous  valiant  and  bold  gentle- 
man, desired  to  see  him. 

Bayard  was  presented  to  Lord  Ludovic, 
who  was  the  head  of  all  the  German  army, 
and  the  lord  marveled  that  this  Bayard  of 
whom  he  had  heard  so  much  was  so  young. 

"  Come  hither,  good  sir !  "  he  said  to  him ; 
"  what  brought  you  to  this  town  ?  " 

"  By  my  good  faith,  my  lord,"  replied  the 
good  chevalier,  in  no  wise  abashed,  "  I  did 
not  intend  to  come  thus  alone,  but  thought 
that  I  was  accompanied  by  my  companions, 
who  are  better  acquainted  with  the  usages  of 


172         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

warfare  than  I ;  for  had  they  done  as  I,  they 
would  now  be  your  prisoners.  Nevertheless, 
in  spite  of  my  adventure,  I  am  thankful  for 
my  good  fortune  in  having  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  so  good  a  master  as  the  captain  who 
took  me  prisoner,  for  he  is  a  gallant  knight." 

Lord  Ludovic  asked  him  to  tell  on  his 
knightly  honor  how  many  men  the  king  of 
France  had  in  his  army. 

Bayard  told  him  frankly  that  there  were 
but  fourteen  or  fifteen  hundred  knights  and 
esquires,  and  eighteen  thousand  men  on  foot. 
M  But  they  are  all  picked  men,"  he  added, 
"  who  are  resolved  to  conquer  Milan.  It  seems 
to  me,  my  lord,  that  you  would  be  safer  in 
Germany  than  here,  for  I  assure  you  that  your 
men  are  not  able  to  contend  with  us." 

Lord  Ludovic  was  pleased  with  the  young 
man's  boldness,  and  answered  him,  saying: 
"  Upon  my  faith,  young  sir,  I  would  that  the 
king's  army  and  mine  might  meet  in  battle  to 
determine  who  is  best.    I  see  no  other  way." 

"  Provided  I  were  out  of  prison,"  replied 
Bayard,  "  I  would  it  were  to-morrow." 


BAYARD  RELEASED  1 73 

"  That  shall  not  stand  in  the  way,"  said 
Ludovic,  "  for  I  set  you  free  from  this  moment; 
but  first  ask  what  you  wish,  and  I  will  grant  it." 

Bayard  thanked  him  and  said,  "My  lord,  I 
ask  for  naught  save  of  thy  courtesy  to  return 
my  horse  and  arms  and  to  allow  me  to  depart." 

"Of  a  truth  that  shall  be  granted  thee," 
said  the  German,  "  and  at  once." 

When  the  serving  men  had  finished  arm- 
ing the  chevalier,  he  leaped  to  his  saddle 
without  putting  foot  in  the  stirrup,  and  rode 
away  after  thanking  them  all  for  their  courtesy. 
As  he  rode  forth,  Lord  Ludovic  exclaimed 
aloud,  "If  all  the  men  of  France  are  such  as 
he,  it  will  fare  ill  with  me  and  my  men." 

When  Bayard  reached  camp  his  compan- 
ions flocked  about  him,  congratulating  him  on 
his  escape.  The  head  of  the  garrison,  seeing 
him,  said :  "  Hallo,  Bayard  !  what  brought  you 
out  of  prison  ?  I  was  about  to  send  one  of  my 
trumpeters  to  pay  your  ransom." 

"  My  lord,  I  thank  you,"  replied  Bayard, 
"  but  Lord  Ludovic  has  liberated  me  out  of 
his  great  courtesy  and  generosity." 


174        PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

V 

Telling  how  Bayard  won  for  himself  great  ho?tor 

When  Bayard  was  twenty-one  years  old, 
he  received  the  degree  of  knight,  and  he  ren- 
dered service  during  his  life  to  three  kings 
of  France,  and  won  for  each  of  them  great 
victories  on  the  field  of  battle.  And  in  all 
the  realms  where  he  fought  there  was  no 
knight  who  kept  his  life  more  pure  or  his 
knightly  honor  more  unstained  than  he.  So 
great  was  his  fame  that  he  was  known  in  all 
the  nations  as  the  good  Chevalier  Bayard, 
the  knight  "without  fear  and  without  re- 
proach." 

Well  might  they  say  that  he  was  without 
fear,  for  he  carried  the  banner  of  France  in 
more  battles  and  sieges  and  assaults  than 
could  possibly  be  written  down,  and  never 
shrank  from  any  danger.  It  was  said  that 
the  Spaniards  and  Germans  and  Italians 
feared  him  more  than  any  man  in  the  French 
army,  and  that  the  news  that  he  was  in  a 
battle  made  the  stoutest  hearts  to  quail. 


WITHOUT  FEAR,  WITHOUT  REPROACH     175 

Yet  it  was  not  for  his  skill  in  war  that 
Bayard  was  most  famous,  but  for  the  blame- 
less and  gentle  life  that  he  lived.  Those 
were  times  when  knighthood  was  not  so  high 
a  calling  as  in  the  days  of  Arthur  and  Charle- 
magne and  Godfrey.  Already  there  were 
men  who  sold  their  swords  to  the  highest 
bidder,  and  spent  their  lives  in  useless  strife, 
that  brought  no  honor  nor  good  to  any  one ; 
and  already  there  were  wise  men  who  said 
that  in  those  civilized  times,  when  there  was 
no  need  to  fight  against  the  Moors  and  Sara- 
cens or  to  protect  the  land  against  the  north- 
ern barbarians,  knightly  men  could  lead  better 
and  braver  lives  at  home  than  abroad.  Those 
were  days  when  many  knights  became  less 
noble,  but  Bayard  was  ever  true  to  his  vows. 
He  would  never  fight  in  any  service  save 
that  of  his  king  and  country,  although  other 
rulers  offered  him  rich  rewards.  He  treated 
his  prisoners  with  wonderful  humanity  and 
gentleness.  He  never  boasted  of  his  victories, 
although  pride  was  the  besetting  sin  of  his 
comrades.   In  every  way  he  so  carried  himself 


176         PAGE,   ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

as  to  win  the  title  by  which  he  has  been 
known  ever  since,  "  the  good  knight,  without 
fear  and  without  reproach." 

It  was  Bayard's  fame  and  loyalty  to  his 
king  that  brought  him  the  greatest  honor 
that  could  come  to  any  knight.  Soon  after 
his  coronation,  Francis  I,  who  was  the  third 
king  under  whom  Bayard  had  served,  was 
summoned  from  his  court  by  the  news  of  a 
great  revolt  in  the  south.  He  sent  Bayard  in 
all  haste  with  the  vanguard  of  the  army,  and 
himself  followed  quickly.  A  mighty  battle 
was  fought,  which  lasted  two  days,  and  in 
which   many  hundreds  of  men  were   killed. 

In  those  two  days  the  chevalier  won  new 
laurels  by  his  bravery,  and  King  Francis  was 
pleased  to  greatly  honor  him.  The  young 
king  wished  to  bestow  on  those  who  had 
served  him  well  the  honor  of  knighthood. 
But  he  was  not  himself  a  knight,  and  could 
not  therefore  give  others  that  degree.  He 
sent  for  Bayard  and  told  him  that  he  desired 
to  be  knighted  by  him,  as  the  knight  of  great- 
est renown  there. 


THE  KNIGHTING  OF  THE  KING       177 

"  Sire,"  said  Bayard,  "  he  who  is  crowned 
and  consecrated  and  anointed  king  of  so 
noble  a  realm  is  already  a  knight  above  all 
other  knights." 

"  Come,  Bayard,"  replied  the  king.  "  Has- 
ten !  Tell  me  not  laws  and  rules,  but  obey 
my  will  and  command,  else  are  you  not  so 
faithful  as  my  poorest  subject." 

"  Surely,  sire,  I  will  do  it  not  once,  but  one 
hundred  times  at  your  command,"  replied 
Bayard,  and  he  took  sword  and  laying  it  upon 
the  king's  shoulder  as  he  knelt  before  him, 
said,  "  Sire,  may  you  be  as  renowned  as 
Roland  or  Oliver  or  Godfrey  ;  and  God  grant 
that  you  may  never  turn  your  back  in  war ! " 

Then  in  a  merry  manner  he  held  up  his 
sword  and  spoke  to  it,  saying :  "  Most  for- 
tunate art  thou  to  have  this  day  conferred 
knighthood  on  so  distinguished  and  power- 
ful a  king.  Truly,  my  good  sword,  I  shall 
keep  thee  as  a  sacred  relic  honored  above  all 
others,  and  will  never  use  thee  save  against  the 
Moors  or  Saracens  or  other  heathen  peoples." 

So  saying,  he  returned  it  to  its  scabbard. 


I  yS       .  PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

The  day  came  when  Bayard  was  mortally 
wounded  in  battle,  and  died  upon  the  field. 
Then  there  was  deep  mourning,  not  only 
in  France  but  in  all  the  countries  of  those 
against  whom  he  had  fought,  for  all  deemed 
him  a  noble  knight.  And  there  are  some 
who  say  that  he  was  the  last  perfect  knight 
that  ever  lived,  but  that  can  hardly  be  true. 

Here  endeth  the  very  joyous  and  pleasant 
and  refreshing  history  of  the  noble  Lord 
Bayard  (may  his  renown  abide),  and  here 
endeth  likewise  this  little  book  which  treat- 
eth  of  the  noble  acts  and  deeds  of  chivalry, 
of  prowess  and  hardiness,  of  love  and  friend- 
ship, and  of  gentleness  and  courtesy. 

"  The  knight's  bones  are  dust, 
And  his  good  sword  rust: 
His  soul  is  with  the  saints,  I  trust." 


NOTES 


M  Some  doubted  its  historic  truth, 
But  while  they  doubted,  ne'ertheless 
Saw  in  it  gleams  of  truthfulness." 

Longfellow 

The  chronicles,  romances,  and  histories  cited  below  are  the 
sources  from  which  the  stories  of  individual  heroes  have  been 
drawn,  but  these  were  written  for  contemporary  readers  who 
were  familiar  with  the  customs  and  standards  of  knighthood. 
In  order  to  present  clear  and  vivid  pictures  of  the  scenes  and 
ceremonies  of  a  knightly  career,  it  has  been  necessary  to  con- 
sult many  treatises  on  chivalric  orders  which,  cannot  here  be 
mentioned. 

Page  5.  The  Drawing  of  the  Sword.  The  story  of  the  miracu- 
lous appearance  of  the  sword  and  of  the  coming  of  the  boy  king 
is  told  from  the  version  in  Malory's  Morte  D* Arthur.  The  mate- 
rial from  which  Arthurian  legends  are  drawn  is  so  varied  in 
character,  and  often  so  unsuitable  for  children,  that  the  writer 
must  do  as  did  the  story-tellers  of  old,  —  treat  it  as  a  storehouse 
out  of  which  he  may  draw  that  which  suits  his  individual  need 
and  purpose.  In  the  present  tales  the  symbolism  of  Malory  and 
Tennyson  has  been  kept  in  the  background,  and  King  Arthur 
has  been  presented  in  what  is  his  rightful  guise  as  regards  the 
development  of  chivalry,  as  a  strong  and  noble  king,  divinely 
appointed,  and  gladly  received  by  the  people,  who  proved  him- 
self more  than  worthy  of  the  choice. 

Page  15.  The  Founding  of  the  Round  Table.  A  combination 
of  Malory  and  Tennyson  which  preserves  the  simplicity  of  the 
former  and  the  idealism  of  the  latter. 

179 


180        PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

Page  21.  Perceval.  The  stories  of  Malory  and  Tennyson,  the 
usual  source  books  for  tales  of  King  Arthur's  knights,  are  so 
closely  interwoven  one  with  another,  and  all  with  the  Grail  legend, 
that  it  has  seemed  best  to  give  the  stories  of  two  of  the  noblest 
knights  of  the  Round  Table,  the  tales  of  Perceval  and  of  Gawain, 
as  they  are  found  in  other  and  simpler  Arthurian  romance. 
The  story  of  Perceval  has  won  for  itself  a  place  among  the 
world's  great  tales.  It  is  the  best  of  a  cycle  of  romances  in 
which  a  young  hero  is  brought  up  in  the  forest  in  ignorance 
of  the  world  and  its  ways.  An  English  minstrel  tells  in  quaint 
verse  and  simple,  direct  fashion  the  story  of  Syr  Percyvelle,  and 
his  poem  is  the  basis  for  our  version.  But  much  is  introduced  in 
the  way  of  detail  and  setting  from  the  more  elaborate  romances 
of  Chretien  de  Troyes  and  Wolfram  von  Eschenbach,  as  well  as 
from  Marie  de  France's  Lay  of  Tyolet.  The  return  of  the  hero 
to  his  mother  is  a  pleasing  feature  found  only  in  the  original 
English  Perceval  legend. 

Page  46.  Sir  Gawain  and  the  Green  Knight.  "  Of  all  the  heroes 
of  British  Romance,"  writes  Dr.  W.  H.  Schofield,  "  Gawain  is 
the  most  admirable  and  most  interesting.  In  the  early  poems  of 
the  cycle  he  is  invariably  represented  as  the  mirror  of  courtesy, 
a  truly  noble  knight,  without  fear  or  reproach."  He  is  "gay, 
gracious,  and  good,"  the  beloved  of  all.  Of  this  cycle  of  which 
he  is  the  hero,  Dr.  Schofield  goes  on  to  say  that  Sir  Ganaayne 
and  the  Grene  K?iight,  the  old  English  poem  of  2500  lines  on 
which  our  tale  is  based,  M  is  incomparably  the  best  of  the  Eng- 
lish romances,  and  one  of  the  finest  in  any  language."  We  have 
followed  as  closely  as  possible  the  quaint  and  delightful  style  of 
the  author,  and  have  found  the  story  especially  valuable  for  use 
in  this  collection  because  it  gives  a  perfect  picture  of  King 
Arthur's  hall  in  holiday  time,  of  the  way  adventures  came  to  his 
knights  without  the  seeking,  and  of  a  typical  quest  of  the  best  type. 
A  more  charming  picture  of  knightly  life  it  would  be  hard  to  find. 

Page  75.  The  Passing  of  Arthur.  The  causes  of  the  downfall 
of  the  Round  Table  are  here  lightly  touched  upon.  Verse  in  this 
and  the  other  tales  of  Arthur  is  adapted  from  Tennyson. 


NOTES  181 

Page  79.  Roland,  a  Knight  of  France.  Roland  is  a  hero  of 
Italy  as  well  as  of  France,  and  it  is  from  Italian  literature  that  we 
take  the  tale  of  his  childhood.  His  first  experience  on  the  battle 
field  comes  from  the  old  English  romance  of  Ogier  the  Dane, 
and  the  incident  of  his  combat  with  Oliver  is  found  in  the  French 
account  of  the  revolt  of  Guerin  de  Montglave  against  Charle- 
magne. Together  the  three  chapters  give  an  interesting  account 
of  the  beginning  of  his  famous  knightly  career,  and  present  an 
opportunity  to  recount  the  ceremonies  of  dubbing  a  knight  and  to 
tell  of  the  friendship  between  Roland  and  Oliver.  The  Charle- 
magne cycle  is  most  confused  and  difficult  of  access  to  modern 
readers. 

Page  101.  A  Steed !  A  Steed !  From  Motherwell's  Ancient 
Minstrelsy. 

Page  103.  The  Battle  of  Ronceval.  This  story  is  much  abridged 
from  the  Chanson  de  Roland ;  the  selections  in  verse  are  adapted 
from  the  beautiful  translation  of  John  O'Hagan.  This  is  one  of 
the  classics  of  literature  as  well  as  of  chivalry. 

Page  125.  Godfrey,  a  Knight  of  the  Crusades.  Michaud's  His- 
toiy  of  the  Crusades  and  Caxton's  reprint  of  William  of  Tyre's 
history  of  Godfrey  de  Bouillon  are  the  sources  for  the  stories  of 
the  beginnings  of  the  first  Crusade  and  of  its  hero  Godfrey.  The 
chronicles  of  that  period  are  vivid  and  picturesque. 

Page  143.    The  Troubadour.    An  old  song  of  crusading  days. 

Page  144.  The  Order  of  St.  George.  The  story  of  St.  George 
and  the  dragon  is  told  in  prose  in  the  histories  of  the  seven 
champions  of  Christendom,  and  in  verse  in  a  ballad  in  Percy's 
Reliqnes.  The  account  of  the  founding  of  the  Order  of  St.  George  . 
is  given  in  Froissart  and  other  chroniclers.  This  is  the  period 
when  chivalry  as  an  institution  attained  its  highest  perfection. 

Page  155.  Chevalier  Bayard.  Bayard  was  fortunate  in  having 
a  "  loyal  servitor,"  who  set  forth  the  history  of  his  master's  life 
in  admiring  and  entertaining  fashion.  There  are  several  modern 
French  and  English  translations"  of  this  ancient  book,  which 
gives  a  good  picture  of  mediaeval  life  in  the  period  when,  as  Ben 
Jonson  puts  it,  "  every  house  became  an  academy  of  honor," 


1 82         PAGE,  ESQUIRE,  AND  KNIGHT 

and  when  the  training  of  page,  esquire,  and  knight  was  the  ideal 
method  of  education,  for  where  could  he  better 

"  learn  to  vault,  to  ride,  to  fence, 
To  move  his  body  gracefuller,  to  speak 
His  language  purer,  or  to  tune  his  mind 
Or  manners  more  to  the  harmony  of  nature, 
Than  in  these  nurseries  of  nobility  ?  " 

Another  picture  of  ideal  chivalry  is  given  in  this  ballad  from 
the  French  of  Eustache  Deschamps,  a  poet  of  the  fourteenth 
century.  The  English  version  is  from  Guizot's  Histoiy  of  France. 

"Amend  your  lives,  ye  who  would  fain 
The  order  of  the  knights  attain  ; 
Devoutly  watch,  devoutly  pray  ; 
From  pride  and  sin,  oh,  turn  away ! 
Shun  all  that 's  base  ;  the  Church  defend  ; 
Be  the  widow's  and  the  orphan's  friend  ; 
Be  good  and  leal ;  take  naught  by  might ; 
Be  bold  and  guard  the  people's  right;  — 
This  is  the  rule  for  the  gallant  knight. 

Be  meek  of  heart ;  work  day  by  day  ; 
Tread,  ever  tread,  the  knightly  way  ; 
Make  lawful  war  ;  long  travel  dare  ; 
Tourney  and  joust  for  lady  fair ; 
To  everlasting  honor  cling, 
That  none  the  barbs  of  blame  may  fling ; 
Be  never  slack  in  work  or  fight ; 
Be  ever  least  in  self's  own  sight ;  — 
This  is  the  rule  for  the  gallant  knight. 

Love  the  liege  lord ;  with  might  and  main 
His  rights  above  all  else  maintain ; 
Be  open-handed,  just  and  true  ; 
The  paths  of  upright  men  pursue  ; 
No  deaf  ear  to  their  precepts  turn ; 
The  prowess  of  the  valiant  learn  ; 
That  ye  may  do  things  great  and  bright, 
As  did  Great  Alexander  hight ;  — 

This  is  the  rule  for  the  gallant  knight." 


"The  long  brown  paih 
before  me  leading 
wherever  I  choose 


